When was maori language banned

However, these days only four percent of our entire population is able to hold a general conversation in te reo. Sadly, only 24 percent of all Maori are fluent speakers. It was once thought that the Maori language and culture would inevitably become extinct but today, te reo Maori is celebrated with events such as te wiki o te reo Maori language week and is the only official spoken language of New Zealand. Though progress has been slow and the rate of speakers stagnant, initiatives are in place to ensure the sustenance and restoration of something truly unique to New Zealand that should be cherished by all.

So … why was it that over a single century, a language almost vanished? I put forward this question to Mr. But many scholars share the opinion that colonisation was the main influence that led to the rapid decline of te reo.

Schooling had the biggest impact on the Maori language. Policies that marginalised te reo were employed in schools and influenced the relationship of young children to te reo. Initial missionary education was carried out using te reo but with the initiation of State education there was an emphasis placed on using English as the medium of instruction.

Education was seen as a means to assimilate Maori, which unfortunately meant that there was no room for te reo. The Native Schools Act established a national system of secular Maori Village Day-Schools whereby Maori would provide the land and the Government would supply the buildings and teachers.

The Act asserted that English should be the only language used, although this was not enforced rigorously until At the very beginning of the twentieth century, education authorities took a hard line against the Maori language, which was forbidden even in the playground. Physical punishment was given to children who disobeyed.

From around the Pakeha population became the majority and many Maori began to question the relevance of te reo in a Pakeha-dominated society.

English was the language of the new economy. Early education was used to assert British superiority and foster imperialistic nationalism while at the same time disestablishing the validity of te reo and tikanga Maori Maori culture. Search this site. Maori language forbidden at school. Interesting how you only get told one side of the story Maori children were strapped for speaking Maori Why Maori was not allowed to be spoken in NZ schools? Report abuse.

Page details. Page updated. Google Sites. He also wanted a fund established to support those feeling the ramifications reconnect with their reo and their tikanga. While those incidents were historic, the trauma has been passed down through generations that followed. It was her name.

It translates to hope, a name she was given after being born with a cleft palate. But during their days at school they, like Samuels, were told to leave their tikanga and their reo at the door, and punished if they disobeyed. It was a protection technique, Murphy said, with parents wanting to shelter their children from the racism they'd experienced. It was a "terrifying and incredibly emotional" experience for kaumatua having to address it, he said.