Page 23 - Kete 1 Resource Book

TE REO MĀORI
Māori language is a key element of Māori culture, and constitutes part of the broader cultural identity of New Zealand.
New Zealand has three official languages – English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Te Reo Māori gained this status with the passing of the Māori Language Act in 1987. This recognition means that dealings with government agencies may be conducted in Māori. However, in practice this almost always requires interpreters, restricting its everyday use to areas of high Māori language fluency and to more formal occasions, such as during public consultation. In addition, New Zealand Post recognises Māori place-names in postal addresses.
A 2006 survey on the health of the Māori language found 22.8 per cent of the Māori population aged 15 and over were proficient in reading Māori (that is, they could read ‘well’ or ‘very well’), a significant increase from the figure in 2001 (13.2 per cent). It also found 16.8 per cent of Māori adults were proficient in writing te reo and 14 per cent were proficient speaking Māori. In the 2013 Census 21.3 per cent of Māori said they could hold a conversation in te reo Māori about a lot
of everyday things. There was an overall decrease in the number in speakers of te reo Māori of 4.8 per cent from the 2006 Census, with the largest decrease of 8.2 per cent coming from those in the 15 to 29 year old age bracket, which fell to 23.3 per cent. The only increase came from the over 65 age category, which increased by 11 per cent since the 2006 Census, to a total of 9.8 per cent.
References:
Since 2003, when Government revised the Māori Language Strategy, there have been major efforts to consolidate and coordinate Māori language programmes and policies, to revitalise te reo and increase the number of people who use it and the situations in which it is used. Today, te reo Māori education through the tertiary sector plays an important role in language revitalisation, as well as maintaining and developing the variety within the language in its use in different situations.
Of recent times there has been a call for revitalisation of the reo and the tikanga it expresses and demonstrates. Engagement of Māori is still preferred through the use of te reo to the participant’s level
of reo ability. Basic functional or conversational communication levels are a minimum engagement prerequisite. There are a lot of free reo (language) resources and programmes available in the community.
Te Taurawhiri o Te Reo Māori provides free access to a comprehensive reo (language) website:
www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/english.
• https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/indicators/main/education-and-learning-outcomes/percentage_of_ maori_population_proficient_in_te_reo_maori
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Māori_language
PSC FW - Māori Cultural Awareness Kete 1 | Published 2017 Page 23