From top row, left: Labour Party MP Adrian Rurawhe, National Party MP Jo Hayes, New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone, Green Party candidate Jack McDonald, and Māori Party MP and co-leader Marama Fox.
In the lead up to the General Election, Massey University is hosting a debate on its Wellington campus to explore the policies of New Zealand’s major political parties to ensure the future of te reo Māori and its continued revitalisation.
Te Reo Anamata – the Future of Te Reo debate will be hosted by Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, the Massey University School of Māori Art, Knowledge and Education in conjunction with Māori Television’s flagship current affairs programme Native Affairs.
Head of Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, Professor Meihana Durie says the debate will play an important part in the ongoing national conversation about the future of Te Reo Māori.
“As Te Pūtahi-a-Toi enters its 20th year, it’s critical to reflect upon the impact of initiatives that have advanced Te Reo Māori across the past two decades. The pertinent question to ask is whether we have done everything possible to fulfil the aspirations that underpinned those initiatives? And what actions must now be undertaken to ensure that the prominence of Te Reo Māori is both secured and enhanced into the future? This debate offers a platform for politicians to articulate their commitment to the future of Te Reo Māori and to state what role their party might play in determining how that future is shaped and resourced.”
Along with Te Reo Māori courses, Te Pūtahi-a-Toi runs the country’s only programmes for Māori medium teachers in collaboration with Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, which oversees the country’s Kura Kaupapa Māori schools.
Last year the Government established Te Mātāwai, a new organisation to lead revitalisation of te reo Māori on behalf of iwi and Māori.
In February, the Green Party announced a policy to introduce universal Te Reo Māori in all public schools, but experts are still divided on whether compulsion is the right way to go, and the issue of resourcing is also problematic.
Professor Durie says it’s important voters know what Te Reo Māori policies the political parties are taking into this election and having Native Affairs on board to televise the debate means everyone will get a chance to hear what they have to say.
The debate will be hosted by Native Affairs presenter, Oriini Kaipara, and will feature Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, and the MPs Jo Hayes for the National Party, Adrian Rurawhe for Labour, Jack McDonald for the Greens and Pita Paraone for NZ First.
The debate will be recorded on Thursday, August 3 and broadcast on Māori Television on Tuesday, August 8 at 8pm followed by extended coverage and audience interaction on Massey University’s social media platform.
Audience members are welcome to register here to attend the debate in the Tokomaru Theatre, at Massey University, Wellington.