In the last 200 years the history of the Māori language (te reo Māori) has been one of ups and downs. At the beginning of the 19th century it was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As more English speakers arrived in New Zealand, the Māori language was increasingly confined to Māori communities. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. As these articles below from the 1950s state, "Few issues concern the modern Maori more than that the country at large should show an interest in and a respect for his language."
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library
In 1972, three groups, Auckland-based Ngā Tamatoa (The Young Warriors), Victoria University’s Te Reo Māori Society, and Te Huinga Rangatahi (the New Zealand Māori Students’ Association) petitioned Parliament to promote the language. A Māori language day introduced that year became Māori language week in 1975. Three years later, New Zealand’s first officially bilingual school opened at Rūātoki in the Urewera. The first Māori-owned Māori-language radio station (Te Reo-o-Pōneke) went on air in 1983.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Alexander Turnbull Library
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Palmerston North City Library
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Radio New Zealand
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Radio New Zealand
NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
NZ On Screen
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
The Spinoff
The Spinoff
The Spinoff
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Christchurch City Libraries
Kete Rotorua
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Christchurch City Libraries
Kete Rotorua
Christchurch City Libraries
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Christchurch City Libraries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Tauranga City Libraries
Christchurch City Libraries
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Tauranga City Libraries
Tauranga City Libraries
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Part of the opening paragraphs of this story are taken from 'History of the Māori language', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/history-of-the-maori-language, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Oct-2017
Six parades were held during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2018 to celebrate te reo Māori. Kaumātua, nohinohi mai i tae ki te whakanui i te reo Māori. Information came out stating that over 50% of New Zealanders supported te reo in all schools. Although the word compulsory is being avoided by many Māori leaders it seems other New Zealanders are not so coy to state that they support compulsory reo in schools, ka mau te wehi! It may be needed if we are indeed aiming to have a million speakers of te reo by 2040. But wouldn't that be fantastic bringing te reo back from the brink of extinction, you go New Zealand, Kia Kaha te Reo Māori.
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand