Media Release
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Co-Leader of the Maori Party
28 May 2009
LANGUAGE: $5.7m for te reo Maori
Dr Pita Sharples is pleased to have secured an additional $4.5 million to help Maori families access te reo Maori and an
extra $1.2 million to help iwi radio.
“Te reo rangatira is the most precious gift our tupuna bequeathed to us to protect, maintain and share with the world
and this new money is recognition of that,” Dr Sharples said.
”We’re looking forward to continuing talks with the Government about its legal and moral duties to protect and promote
te reo Maori and tangata whenua having a more direct stake in the resources provided for the promotion of te reo Maori.”
The $4.5 million, which includes an additional $3 million, will be allocated to the Whanau Development Programme over
three years to support the ongoing provision of targeted information and advice to whanau about Maori language
acquisition and use through a network of mentors.
The additional $1.2 for iwi radio will be spent on supporting their operational costs and will see $600,000 allocated in
both 2009/10 and 2010/11.
ENDS