At the time of the survey most people in Waitangi understood the Maori language well, including more than a third of the children under 15. Three-quarters of the adults over 25 spoke Maori well and they were the people most likely to use the language with workmates, neighbours and friends in the community. Maori and English were spoken in most households visited, although some people said their children usually replied in English when spoken to in Maori. Also, more than a third of the people under 25 did not understand Maori well at the time of the survey. While English is being used more and more in the home, because, for example, television and radio programmes are mostly in that language, Maori is still the language for ceremonies on the marae and in some church services. The Maori language was much better off in Waitangi than in many other parts of the Bay of Islands, but even here children were beginning to use English more and more, even at home. If more Maori could be used at school, this would certainly help all those parents who are trying to keep the language alive in the home.
Te Tai Tokerau | Northland | Far North | 1970-79 | 5% of Māori children can speak te reo. (1970-75) | Story is by tangata whenua
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