WOULD IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO YOU?
If 10 million Japanese settled in NZ, took control of NZ by weight of numbers and made [unclear: N] a world leader in trade and technology.
AND DECIDED THAT IN FUTURE JAPANESE WAS TO BE OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE. WOULD IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO YOU?
[unclear: -] Would you continue to speak English if most people could not understand you?
[unclear: -] Would you speak English to your children if they were beaten at school for speaking English?
[unclear: -] Would you be content if English language and literature were considered to be irrelevant [unclear: and] were removed from the school syllabus because the Japanese were ignorant of English literature and therefore decided it was nonexistent?
[unclear: -]Would your children bother to speak English if all walks of life were controlled by Japanese speaking people and they were told English was useful only at some sentimental family occassions like weddings and funerals?
WOULD IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO YOU?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT?
[unclear: To] people from a highly developed culture, like Japanese, call you a DUMB KIWI because you had trouble speaking their language, and didn't want to anyway.
YOU MEAN, YOU WOULD BE QUITE HAPPY?
[unclear: To] they consistently mispronounced your names? if they talked patronisingly about you "OUR KIWIS"? they learned a few words of English only to impress their overseas [unclear: ends]? and treated you as guinea pigs for anthropological studies and for tourists to [unclear: pe] at?
ARE YOU SURE YOU WOULD CALL THAT "UNSURPASSED HARMONIOUS RACE RELATIONS" AND "COMPLETE EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW"
September 14, 1972 will go down in history as the sign of the beginning of a new era in New Zealand Maori/Pakeha relations. On that day, for the first time ever, activities in the main centres of the country were organised to increase and in some quarters create public interest in Maori Language. However, these activities were restricted in scope due to the limited resources of the organisers, an enthusiastic band of Maori and Pakeha students who are convinced of the role that Maori Language has to play in determining a New Zealand identity.
These people consider it their responsibility to make a wider community aware of this need. Recent explosive developments in the Pacific have aided this end by lowering the inordinately high status enjoyed by European languages and have validated the contention that New Zealand needs to be able to lay claim to something unique — which is our Maori heritage, the key to which is the Maori language.
Te Ra Nui-O-Te Reo Maori (National Maori Language Day) 1972 was definitely a successful venture. The petition asking that Maori language is available in all schools was favourably received by Parliament and is at present being implemented by the Department of Education as quickly as staffing allows. The objective is to offer to all New Zealanders the opportunity to share in our dual (linguistic and cultural) heritage. Initially this would be through correct pronunciation of local place names, personal names, etc. In this way opportunities for experiencing the values of another culture can be provided for Pakehas and our nation's cultural identity enriched.
There is however, still much work to be done. Te Huinga Rangatahi-o-Aotearoa (formerly NZ Federation of Maori Students) the initiators of this day is endeavouring to have Te Ra Nui-O-Te Reo Maori made an annual day, recognised by the wider community just as Arbour Day is. This aim can best be achieved by as many groups as possible organising activities and/or events during the week September 7-14 with publicity etc. if they so wish. Hence we invite you and your group to participete in our quest for a means of asserting a New Zealand identity.
Specific suggestions that may help are: cultural concerts, debates, discussions, seminars, sample lessons, conducting daily business where possible in Maori, simple prayers in Maori, greeting everyone with 'Kia ora' instead of 'Hello' or 'Morning, book displays, etc.
There is a meeting on August 29, 1973 at the VUW Tennis Pavillion, 7pm (by the John Reid Squash Courts, Kelburn) to have a general session so that any bodies with ideas for the day can assist those not so orientated to this type of activity. If you or your group is interested in attending or can offer assistance to others, please do so. We do not intend to set ourselves up as a paternalistic body but we can act as general information despatch centre if need be.
HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHY A MAORI MINORITY WHICH IS CONSISTENTLY OUTVOTED AND IGNORED BY A BUNCH OF FOREIGNERS SHOULD TAKE TO THE STREETS AND TO THE PAKEHA?
WE (MAORI AND PAKEHA) WANT SOME DRASTIC CHANGES. PREFERABLY BY PEACEFUL MEANS.
WE WANT:
1. MAORI LANGUAGE TAUGHT IN ALL SCHOOLS IN NZ AND AVAILABLE TO ALL PUPILS. NOT MAYBE LATER BUT NOW! SOME OF US WANT TO HAVE IT COMPULSORY FOR ALL PUPILS - HOWEVER YOU CAN LEAD A KIWI TO WATER BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE HIM DRINK.
2. ALL NEW ZEALANDERS TO MAKE AN EFFORT AT LEAST TO PRONOUNCE MAORI NAMES CORRECTLY. IF NOT TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE.
3. TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE EXTENSIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL RESOURCES OF MAORI LITERATURE AND HISTORY.
4. NEW ZEALANDERS TO DEMAND COURSES IN MAORI FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND EVENING CLASSES.
5. PEOPLE TO WRITE US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MAORI LANGUAGE; WHY. WHERE AND HOW TO LEARN IT.
TE REO MAORI, (Maori Language Society) C/- Anthropology Department, Victoria University, WELLINGTON.
