The Health of the Maori Language in 2006 - Te Puni Kokiri

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PART THREE:
KEY FINDINGS
This section outlines the key findings with regard to Mäori language status; knowledge and
acquisition; and use.
MÄORI LANGUAGE STATUS
As noted earlier, language status refers to the position of a language within society. In the context
of Mäori language revitalisation, it is necessary to promote the status of the Mäori language
within society to create and sustain a positive environment for Mäori language learning and use.
Among the Mäori population, the attitudes of actual and potential Mäori speakers towards the
Mäori language have a significant influence on their motivation to learn and use Mäori. Among
non-Mäori, their attitudes towards the Mäori language contribute to the development of a positive
linguistic environment for Mäori speakers.
Drawing on data from the Attitudes surveys of 2000 and 2006 20 , this part of the report looks at
the status of the Mäori language among Mäori and non Mäori. It also examines shifts in the
attitudes of Mäori and non-Mäori towards the role of Government in language revitalisation.
Value of the Mäori Language Among Mäori
Between 2000 and 2006, there were positive shifts in the value placed on the Mäori language by
Mäori people. The Attitudes surveys grouped the Mäori respondents based on their overall values
towards the Mäori language. The three groups were:
• Cultural Developers – people who are willing to share and progress their knowledge of Mäori
language and culture with all ethnic groups;
• Mäori Only – people who tend to have the view that Mäori language and culture are the
exclusive domains of Mäori people; and
• Uninterested Mäori – this group place very little importance on engaging with the Mäori
language and culture.
Figure 1 shows the changes among these groups between 2000 and 2006. Although Cultural
Developers and Mäori Only groups increased only slightly from 2000, the Uninterested Mäori
group significantly decreased by 5 percentage points. This is a positive trend for Mäori language
revitalisation which shows that, overall, Mäori people consistently place high value on the Mäori
language.
20. For more detailed findings about these surveys refer to reports published by Te Puni Kokiri in 2000 and 2006 at www.tpk.govt.nz