Many had been strapped for speaking the language at school and did not want their children punished as they had been. However, when local elders started dying off, many people were so worried that a lot of tribal history would be lost with them that they decided to teach themselves as well as their own children Maori in the home. Many people, therefore, wanted Maori language courses started in primary and secondary schools to complement their efforts. Many of the people we spoke to were worried about the loss of the language in the region, especially among the younger people. Some parents felt that they were to blame for not teaching their own children the language.
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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