Although our interviewers did not come across many people in Shannon who could speak and understand Maori fluently, most people they spoke to were very keen on the idea of learning to speak Maori and especially on the idea of having their children learn. Because few people were able to teach their children Maori themselves the introduction of the teaching of Maori in schools was strongly supported. Two other women told our interviewers that they had been able to speak Maori well before they moved to Shannon. Upon arriving, however, they had both been laughed at by locals for speaking Maori. This embarrassment coupled with the fact that there was no one else to talk Maori with meant that both these women soon forgot all their knowledge of Maori. One of these women was trying to teach herself Maori again and they both hoped their children would someday show an interest and try to learn as well.
Manawatū-Whanganui | Horowhenua | 1970-79 | 5% of Māori children can speak te reo. (1970-75) | Story is by tangata whenua
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