Hon Te Ururoa Flavell
Minister of Māori Development

4 October 2016
Media Statement

Te Mātāwai first hui – a milestone for te reo Māori

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said today’s first meeting of Te Mātāwai signals the dawn of a new era for te reo Māori – New Zealand’s indigenous language.

Te Mātāwai, the new organisation established by Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 to lead Māori language revitalisation on behalf of iwi and Māori, is meeting for the first time at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki.

“This is a significant milestone in the journey of Māori language revitalisation,” said Minister Flavell.

“Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori has gone through its legislative process. It is now time for Te Mātāwai to unfold, stretch and grow.”

Te Mātāwai has 13 members – seven selected by iwi, four selected by Māori language stakeholder organisations and two appointed by the Māori Development Minister.

Today the Minister will join members of Te Mātāwai, their whānau, hapū and iwi, and other leaders with an interest in te reo Māori at the pōwhiri.

The Minister said Te Mātāwai members would need to utilise their collective skills, experience and passion to help te reo Māori to flourish.

“I am committed to working on behalf of the Crown for the good of te reo Māori. I know that if we work well together, te reo Māori will be the winner.”

The first Rūnanga Reo – the regular joint meeting with Te Mātāwai members and Crown Ministers – will be held later this month.

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