Many of the people we interviewed, especially the kaumatua were worried that fewer and fewer people spoke Maori in Ratana Pa. Over a third said they had been beaten as children for speaking Maori at school. This was one of the main reasons why many of them did not teach their own children the language. Three quarters of those between 25 and 44 could not speak Maori well, and were unable to teach it to their children, so they wanted Maori taught in the schools. Many of the parents praised the Maori language courses being taught at their local primary school.
Manawatū-Whanganui | Rangitīkei | 1970-75 | 5% of Māori children can speak te reo. (1970-75) | Story is by tangata whenua
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