3. TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
E whakapono ana ia ki tā te Kaiwhakahaere Matua o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo a Haami Piripi i kī rā, “kāre te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga i te whakamanako i Te Reo Māori, ā, kāre hoki i te whakauru āhuatanga Māori ki roto i ngā hōtaka ako o ngā kura”, koinā te kaha aro pono mai o taua tari ki Te Reo Māori, āe rānei, kāre rānei; ki te kore he aha ai?
[Does he believe that “the Ministry of Education does not give te reo Māori the acknowledgment that it should and is failing to push Māori in school work programmes”, as stated by Māori Language Commission Chief Executive, Haami Piripi, is a true reflection of his ministry’s commitment to te reo; if not, why not?]
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
No. I understand that the comment was from a discussion on the Te Karere programme about the need to strengthen our acknowledgment of Māori language learning in the school curriculum. The new draft curriculum, which is being launched on 31 July, includes specific acknowledgment of Māori language learning. I am also pleased to announce that, for the first time, a draft curriculum to support the teaching of te reo Māori as a curriculum subject is being developed. That is due to go out for national consultation at the end of this year, following regionally based trials.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
He aha te take e pānui atu ana Te Ara Reo a-Iwi i ngā ara ki Te Reo Māori ki Aotearoa whānui mō nga Tari Kāwanatanga e ono, arā, Te Tari Hiranga Tangata, Te Ratonga Manene, Te Tari Koporeihana Whare, Te Tari Taiwhenua, Te Koporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara me Te Tari Pirihimana engari, e ngaro nei Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Why does the Office of Ethnic Affairs Language Line advise New Zealanders that they can request Māori language services at six Government departments—namely, Work and Income, Immigration New Zealand, the Housing New Zealand Corporation, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the New Zealand Police—but the Ministry of Education is not included in that list?]
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I was not aware that they were not being referred to the Ministry of Education. It is probably because of the very wide range of schools, which of course would deal directly with parents who were concerned about the issue. But I am happy to take that up with the member and see whether it would be a useful development.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
What else is the Government doing to support the teaching of te reo Māori in New Zealand schools?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The Government supports the full range of te reo Māori learning. That includes providing nearly $18 million a year to support teaching in Māori immersion, $7 million a year for Māori medium resources, $5 million over 4 years for the teaching of Māori in mainstream settings, and $500,000 through Budget 2006 to develop a Māori language education outcomes framework. I should say that today my colleague Parekura Horomia is launching a radio dramatisation of the first Māori language novel. It was developed in partnership with the Māori Language Commission, and will be a welcome addition to the resources currently available in the Māori language.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
He aha i kore ai a ia i kite i ētahi pūtea hōu mō ngā rawa ā-reo Māori nei i te wā e umere ana ngā kura mō aua rauemi?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Why did he not seek any funding for Māori language resources, at a time when schools were screaming out for such resources?]
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I will just take the member back to the fact that we already have, in the Budget, substantial money that is still being rolled out—$18 million around Māori immersion, $7 million around Māori medium resources, and other areas in the Budget, like the $500,000 for the language education outcomes framework. There is the fact that we are regionally trialling the curriculum I mentioned before, and the fact that next year it will go out nationally. All that funding is there already. That is why I do not at the present time need additional funding above that. We have a large amount to implement right now.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Hei whai haere i te whakaaro nui o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Rotoiti ki te whakamōhio i te kupu ‘kura’ i te taha o te kupu ‘school’ i ō rātou tohu ā-kura, he aha tā te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga i te taha o LTSA ki te whakakōhatu i Te Reo Māori hei reo tūturu i Aotearoa nei?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Following the initiative of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rotoiti to introduce the word “kura” alongside the word “school” on their bus signs, what work has the Ministry of Education initiated with the Land Transport Safety Authority to affirm the official status of te reo Māori?]
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The member is right. That is a matter for Land Transport New Zealand, but I have personally made it clear that I am comfortable with having both words on the bus.