Today, te reo Māori is recognised as an important part of New Zealand culture and identity. But things were not always
so hopeful for the language. By the 1970s, te reo Māori was on the verge of extinction. The long journey of
revitalisation has been marked with many challenges and many victories.
Part of the journey was taking Wai 11, the te reo Māori claim, to the Waitangi Tribunal. The resulting report confirmed
te reo Māori was a taonga the Crown had to actively protect and contributed to te reo Māori being made an official
language in 1987.
Te reo Māori champions Piripi Walker and Justice Joe Williams will speak about their own journeys in language
revitalisation and the wider movement across the country. A facilitated discussion with Dr Vincent Olsen-Reeder will
follow.
This talk is in support of the new Te Mana o te Reo Māori online story, part of Te Tai Treaty Settlement Stories, a programme initiated by Manatū Taonga which aims to enhance understanding of the past by exploring Treaty settlements
and their enduring impact.
When and where
Wednesday 4 November 2020, 12:10 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Please come to the Auditorium (Taiwhanga Kauhau) on the lower ground floor, National Library Building, corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington.
These free Public History Talks are a collaboration between the National Library of New Zealand and Manatū
Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Please arrive early to ensure a prompt start. We look forward to seeing you at the Library!