The importance of learning te reo Maori

In this week’s class we talked about the Maori language, also known as te reo Maori. It was the predominant language spoken in NZ at the beginning of the 19th century. But as more English settlers arrived there, the people spoke less and less Maori. Between the 1930’s and the 1960’s the percentage of Maori speakers decreased from 96% to 26%. They experienced racial discrimination and were discouraged from learning or speaking the language. As a consequence, many people were concerned that Maori could became a dead language and as a result a Maori renaissance began. Many schools decided to adopt a bilingual system, teaching both Maori and English. In addition to that, dual-language websites and a Maori Television channel were created and people felt more encouraged to speak te reo Maori again. Nevertheless, a report released in 2014 showed that the percentage of Maori speakers was still decreasing, and only a quarter of Maori can speak te reo fluently. Therefore, some people have started to wonder: should the Maori language be compulsory in schools? In my opinion, this is a very fair proposition. The Maori were the first settlers to arrive in NZ. They are an integral part of the island’s history. Also, if the te reo Maori were to become a dead language, New Zealanders would run the risk of losing the chance to better understand their own history. On the contrary, learning the language in school would only bring advantages to the Kiwis. Firstly, researches show that learning a second language improves critical learning skills, creativity, memory skills and several other cognitive skills. Secondly, it would help to bring people from different backgrounds together. It would enhance and strengthen the image of the Maori culture, thus reducing racism against Maori descendants. Finally, it would be a way of learning about their own country’s history and culture. It could prove to be a win-win situation. New Zealanders could better understand their cultural heritage and the Maori culture could be preserved.