Te reo Māori became an official language in its own country 35-years-ago today and the battle for its survival has yet
to be won says the Māori Language Commission. The Māori Language Act came into force on the 1 August 1987.
“The battle for te reo Māori has been fought in communities across Aotearoa, from our smallest towns to our biggest
cities. In 1987 some warned that making te reo an official language would divide New Zealanders but 35-years later, te
reo is something that unites us,” said Professor Rawinia Higgins, Māori Language Commissioner.
“From the 1 million people who joined us for our Māori Language Moments, to the thousands singing our anthem in te reo
at All Black tests and the hundreds taking part in total immersion kura reo every weekend: te reo is part of our
national identity as New Zealanders and connects us all to this place we call home.”
“For Māori New Zealanders, te reo is an integral part of our identity. It tells the story of our families and links us
forever to our ancestors and to Aotearoa. The battle for its survival is part of the story of every Māori family.”
Today also marks the 35th birthday of the Māori Language Commission, which opened its doors when the Māori Language Act
became law.Professor Higgins said Stats NZ data released this month revealed some exciting developments:Almost 1 in 4 Māori New Zealanders now speak te reo as a first language, while 34 per cent of Māori New Zealanders can
speak te reo fairly well.Young New Zealanders are leading the way in te reo proficiency, with around 40 per cent of those aged 15-34 able to
speak more than a few words or phrases.3 in 5 New Zealanders think te reo should be a core subject in primary schools.
“But the battle is not over: we need 1 million speakers of te reo by 2040 to safeguard our language for future
generations. Those babies born today will be the first adult generation of speakers in 2040, the countdown is on.”
The commission is launching a campaign calling for New Zealanders to start capturing the many stories of the battle for
te reo Māori, to ensure that the language’s journey will be told and understood in years to come.
“We want to ensure that families and communities capture te reo stories that matter to them. Whether people want to
share them publicly: is up to them. The main thing is that they are captured so that future generations can understand
why and how our people fought for the survival of te reo Māori.“
“In the next month we will launch a timeline and website for people to share their stories of our battle for te reo
Māori: Keep an eye out for it!”Māori Language Week: Monday 12th September – Sunday 18th September 2022Theme: Kia kaha te reo MāoriMāori Language Moment: 12pm Wednesday 14th September 2022
50-years-ago in 1972 the Māori Language Petition, calling on the government to protect te reo and teach it in schools, was presented to parliament. That day, the 14th
September became Māori Language Day and later Māori Language Week. For the past two years at the moment the petition was presented, 12pm on the 14th September: more than 1 million New
Zealanders have stopped to celebrate the Māori Language Moment.