Although only a few people included in the National Park survey were able to speak and understand Maori well, the survival of the language was obviously very important to many people in these districts. A number of people felt that not only was it important for themselves to learn to speak Maori, it was also important for their children and grandchildren to learn. To this end, there was much support for the teaching of Maori in schools and some people had already started teaching their mokopuna themselves.
Hopefully these positive feelings towards the Maori language will not disappear so that more young people can be encouraged to become aware of the importance of the language and of the opportunities for learning it and take advantage of them.
Manawatū-Whanganui | Ruapehu | 1970-75 | 5% of Māori children can speak te reo. (1970-75) | Story is by tangata whenua
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