19 May 2008

Media Release

Te reo Maori in homes - 500,000 hours

“Maori programming has elevated the status, knowledge and use of te reo Maori in homes throughout Aotearoa”, says Huhana Rokx, Chief Executive Officer of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori.

Today Te Mangai Paho, the Maori Broadcasting Authority launches a CD celebrating the funding of 500,000 hours in Maori programming. Te Mangai Paho was established in 1993 to promote Maori broadcasting.

“Acknowledgement must be made to all those who have paved the way, Nga Tamatoa and Te Reo Maori Society who petitioned Parliament in 1972 for te reo Maori to be promoted; Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo who lodged the Te Reo Maori claim in 1985, which led to the advent of Maori radio and the Maori Television Service”, says Huhana.

The first Maori radio station, Te Upoko o te Ika went to air in 1987. New Zealand now has 21 iwi radio stations broadcasting Maori language to the nation enabling Maori language to reach people at home and be a part of every day life.

“In 2004 Maori Television was launched which also has a key role in taking te reo Maori into all homes, making it part of everyday activities and supporting intergenerational language transmission which is a vital aspect of Maori language revitalisation”, says Huhana Rokx.

“A living language is a language spoken everyday in the home and we look to Maori broadcasting to promote the notion of whanau valuing and using as much te reo Maori as they can in their home”, says Huhana Rokx.

“Maori language is a living national taonga for all New Zealanders and is what makes us unique. This year’s Maori Language Week is celebrating Te Reo i te Kainga, Maori Language in the Home, and 500,000 hours of Maori programming dramatically increases the visibility and presence of te reo Maori in all homes in Aotearoa.”


Contact:
Nicky Cockburn Birch
021 475 782 
nicky@tetaurawhiri.govt.nz