Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora – Developing a new construct for Māori language revitalisation
Professor Rawinia Higgins
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Professor Rawinia Higgins (Tūhoe) was appointed Te Tumu Ahurei (Māori) / Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) of Victoria University of Wellington in 2016. She was previously Victoria’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori Research and Head of School for Te Kawa a Māui / School of Māori Studies. Professor Higgins came to Victoria as a senior lecturer in 2009 after holding academic positions at the University of Otago for 12 years. Her research expertise is Māori language revitalisation and, more specifically, language planning and policy.
Professor Higgins is a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, a board member of Te Mātāwai, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga (Māori Centre of Research Excellence), and is the Deputy Chair of the Māori Knowledge and Development PBRF portfolio. In 2015, the Minister for Māori Development appointed her chair of the review of the Māori Language Bill and she helped shape the legislation enacted in April 2016. Te Mātāwai was created as part of the new legislation and governs The Māori Language Strategy dedicated to whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities.
Abstract
In 2016, Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Act) introduced a new approach to language revitalisation in Aotearoa New Zealand. The earlier Māori Language Act 1989 had declared te reo Māori to be an official language... [ view full abstract ]
In 2016, Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Act) introduced a new approach to language revitalisation in Aotearoa New Zealand. The earlier Māori Language Act 1989 had declared te reo Māori to be an official language of New Zealand and established key rights to speak, learn and promote the Māori language. However, subsequent reviews of the Māori language sector found that the original legislation and strategies had not gone far enough in reversing language decline. A new Bill was introduced in 2014 but it had major limitations, a wary public response and was stymied by a change of Minister, which altogether prompted another independent review.
The review group (which I chaired) used Language Planning and Policy (LPP) principles to frame its findings. The group’s recommendations were largely adopted by the Government and are a strong feature of the 2016 legislation. Using the analogy of a wharenui (traditional meeting house), we highlighted the need to consider both micro and macro language planning principles. We also outlined the roles and responsibilities of Māori and the Crown for language revitalisation, in order to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi partnership. This distinctive new legislation has changed the policy landscape and, although it is only early days, has challenged both Māori and the Crown in the development of a new ‘wharenui’. The journey to construction has been an arduous one but, ultimately, will test this country’s commitment to addressing language shift. This presentation will provide an overview of Māori language development in Aotearoa New Zealand and outline how both LPP and mātauranga Māori paradigms have influenced legislation and reset the policy landscape for Māori language revitalisation.
Session
KN-1 » Opening Keynote panel (11:00 - Wednesday, 27th June, F&PAA Lecture Theatre)
