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Submissions for the revamped Maori language strategy
close on Friday,
but a leader of the Te Ataarangi movement says
the strategy presents a danger to community strategies
if Te Matawai is allowed to take over.
Te Ataarangi is perhaps one of the most successful
Maori language initiative to date.
Te Ataarangi's desire is to help
and support grassroots initiatives
driven by the communities themselves.
Hence the questions raised by this reo expert
that community programmes such as these
may get swallowed up in the Government's proposed
Maori language strategy.
This strategy won't work
if communities aren't given space to drive their own programmes.
The strategy that was taken around the country in the past month
is aimed at giving the reigns back to iwi.
Hond's question is,
what type of iwi are they looking at?
That's a rather broad term.
Are we talking iwi as in tribal authorities?
Will tribal authorities be put in charge
of reviving the language?
If that's the case, then there may be some problems.
There are also concerns
about the proposed governing body, Te Matawai,
that will oversee things like Maori Television and Te Mangai Paho.
Language initiatives within the broadcasting industry,
as well as schools,
are already well established
with a steady stream of funding and resources.
But in terms of community-led programmes,
these are always left wanting.
So what happens to those initiatives
once they are amalgamated under Te Matawai?
My concern is that those who are appointed to Te Matawai
might give priority to the well established initiatives.
Plenty of questions to be added to Te Ataarangi's submission
that must be handed in before the 5pm deadline this Friday.
But there's no doubt more issues will be raised after the deadline.
Kereama Wright, Te Karere.