The people in the survey had different feelings about the Māori language. While most of them wanted it taught in schools, some were concerned about the form of Maori being taught - they did not want a person from another tribe teaching his dialect to their children. This was already causing trouble in some households in Paroa. The kaumatua believed that to know the Maori language was an important part of being Maori - without the language one could not truly be a Maori. On the other hand, some people preferred to speak English. They thought that the Maori language belonged in the past, and that the Maori must change to fit into the modern world, and must learn new skills in order to survive. "
Source: Read the full NZCER report here
Te Moana-ā-Toi | Bay of Plenty | Whakatāne | 1970-79 | Story is by tangata whenua
Comments