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Ngāti Kahungunu Appalled By Pulling Of Te Reo Signage
Ngāti Kahungunu is appalled by the Minister of Transport and Waka Kotahi’s decision to pull the use of Reo Māori traffic signs and stands unapologetically in defence of te reo Māori “Taihoa” “Haere” stop-go signs in Te Matau a Māui.
Says Ngāti Kahungunu Chair, Bayden Barber, “This is not about rules - it’s about racism.
Te reo Māori is not a translation, a novelty, or a risk. It is official. It is sacred. It is ours. It belongs on our roads just as it does in our wharenui, classrooms, homes, and workplaces.”
He adds, “I loved seeing the use of Te Reo in these contexts. It’s only two words surrounded by green or red, which most people understand as go or stop. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce te reo to the masses.”
Ngāti Kahungunu has been on a 25-year journey to reclaim and restore the use of te reo amongst its 100,000 people, 96 marae and over 150 hapū with the recent review of its language strategy, Kahungunu kia Eke. Last year the Toitū Te Reo Language Festival in Hastings attracted over 7000 people from all walks of life, Māori and non-Māori alike. Te reo Māori is thriving in parts of the community and Ngāti Kahungunu was to see te reo continue to flourish.
Barber again comments, “As part of our language strategy, Ngāti Kahungunu has worked closely with workplaces and organisations within our rohe to support our language aspirations. Hastings District Council has bilingual signage on all its main roadways. The iwi has a good relationship with Tūpore Infrastructure who have over 90% Māori workforce and commends the use of te reo on its stop-go signs.”
Ngāti Kahungunu demands the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signage and a full rewrite of Waka Kotahi’s rulebook so that this never happens again. In addition to this Ngāti Kahungunu is ready to meet with Waka Kotahi, the Minister of Transport, and TMNZ. But we do not come to negotiate our identity - we come with clear demands: restore the language, revise the rules, and acknowledge the damage done.
Te reo Māori is a language of this land. It must be seen, spoken, and protected - not paused, not questioned and not erased.
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