Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill

Tēnā koe, e Te Kaikōrero o Te Whare. E mōtini ana ahau, Kia pānuitia Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori mō te wā tuarua. Hai tīmatanga kōrero māku me pēnei te kī, “Tuia i runga, tuia i raro, tuia i waho, tuia i roto, tuia i te here tangata ka rongo te pō, ka rongo te ao. Tuia i te muka tangata i takea mai i Hawaiki nui, i Hawaiki roa, i Hawaiki pāmamao. Te hono i wairua ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama. Koia rā e rongo, whakairia ki runga tūturu o whiti whakamaua kia tinā! Tinā! Hui-e i tāiki e!”

I a tātau e kōrero nei mō te mana o Te Reo Māori, me whai wāhi au ki te tuku kōrero ki te hunga kua ngaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi i ngā rā tata kua hipa ake. Kō tākuta Ranginui Walker tērā, ko Tāhuna Mihinnick tērā, ko Roger Aranui tērā, arā noa atu wētahi. Ēngari, me whai wāhi au anō hoki ki a Ērima, Te Toihōu o Te Taura Whiri i te wā i a ia. Haere koutou ki tua o Paerau whakangaro atu rā! Ki a tātau te hunga ora tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa!

I roto i tāna kauhau ki Te Whare Pāremata, nō te marama o Hōngongoi te tau 2014, i te wā i mōtinihia ai te pānui tuatahi i te pire, nā taku rangatira, nā Hōnore Tā Pita Sharples, arā, ko Te Minita Whakawhanaketanga Māori i taua wā, te kōrero mō Te Reo Māori me tana kī ake: “he taonga mā ngā iwi, mā ngāi Māori hoki, he āhuatanga whakahirahira o te ahurea o Niu Tīreni”. I kōrero ia mō te heke haere o te ora o Te Reo rau tau rua tekau. Mō te tau 1900, he tata ki te 100 ōrau te tokomaha o ngāi Māori i kōrero i tō rātau ake Reo. Hoi anō, i ngā tau 70 ka whai i muri mai i tino heke iho tēnei ki te āhua 20 ōrau. I taua wā, he kaumātua te nuinga o te hunga kōrero Māori, ā, i te tāmatemate haere rātau. I whakapaetia, ka mate Te Reo Māori. I ohorere a ngāi Māori. Ēhara mō te āhua mamate o tō rātou Reo anake ēngari, mō tō rātou āhua anō hoki, me kī, ko tō rātau tūranga, ko rātau nōhanga, tō rātou mana hoki, i runga tonu i tō rātou ake whenua. Arā hoki te āhua o te mimiti haere, ā, haere ake nei, māna ka mahia ētahi panonitanga nui, whakaharara.

Ko te puāwaitanga Māori te urupare i tīmata ai i taua wā, ā, ko pērā tonu tae noa mai ki nāianei. Ko te whakaora me te whakarauora i Te Reo Māori tētahi wāhanga whakahirahira o tēnei puāwaitanga, nā Te Māori Language Act 1987, i whakamanatia ai e Te Karauna Te Reo Māori hei taonga mā ngā iwi, mā ngāi Māori hoki, i whakaū ai hoki Te Reo Māori hai Reo whaimana ā-ture mō Niu Tīreni. Kua kitea e tātau te whakatūnga, te tipu hoki o ngā Kōhanga Reo, o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, o ngā Whare Kura, i nāianei hoki o ngā wānanga kei te taumata mātauranga matua. Kua wātea ake te ako i Te Reo Māori i roto i ō tātau kura auraki, i ō tātau whare wānanga me ngā kura mātauranga matua kē atu. Arā hoki ngā reo irirangi ā-iwi, ngā reo irirangi Māori hoki, ko Te Pouaka Whakaata Māori i whakatūria hei whakarato, hei whakapāho hōtaka i Te Reo Māori.

Hoi anō ahakoa wā tātou karawhiunga hei whakarauora ake i Te Reo, he āhua tokoiti tonu te hunga e uru ana ki roto i ēnei kaupapa. He urupare te whakapuakitanga o tēnei pire i te tau 2014, ki te whakaaro, he mea whakatīna Te Māori Language Act 1987 hei tautoko i te whakarauoratanga o Te Reo. Ko te aronga o te pire, i whakapuakina atu ai, he whakaū i te mana o Te Reo hai taonga mā ngā iwi, mā ngāi Māori hoki hai Reo whaimana ā-ture mō Niu Tīreni. Ka whakatū tēnei i a Te Mātāwai, hei hinonga ā-ture motuhake kia tū hai kaiārahi mā ngā iwi, mā ngāi Māori hoki i roto i tā rātou mahi hai kaitiaki mō Te Reo Māori.

I nāinanei ka huri au ki te pire i whakahokia pūrongotia ai e Te Komiti Take Māori. He pēnei te kī kāore i tere mārika te rerenga o te pire mā te tukunga komiti kōwhiri ēngari, arā noa ētahi tino take i pēnei ai. Tuatahi, nō te marama o Hōngongoi tau 2014 i whakapuakina, i tukuna atu hoki tēnei ki te komiti, nō mua tata mai i te pōtitanga ā-motu i te tau 2014. Nō muri mai i te pōtitanga, nō muri hoki i taku whai haepapatanga mō te pire, i pīrangi au kia mārakerake anō taku titiro ki te pire. Nā tēnei i whakatū ai au i tētahi Rōpū Tohutohu Reo Māori ki te whakaaroaro mehemea, me whakapai ake, me pēhea rānei te whakapai ake i te pire. Kai konei wētahi e noho nei ki runga ake nei. Nā te tāpaetanga i tukuna mai mā te tukanga komiti kōwhiri rātau i whai pānga ai i roto i taua mahi. Inā rā i pīrangi au kia tūturu te kitea o te haepapatanga o Te Karauna ki te whakamarumaru ki te toko ake hoki i te whakarauoratanga o Te Reo Māori.

I tuku pūrongo mai te rōpū tohutohu ki a au i te marama o Pipiri i tērā tau, ā, i mārohitia ai tētahi tauira hou. I takea mai i tētahi ngātahitanga ā-mahi i waenganui i Te Karauna me Te Iwi Māori. I tēnei wā, me whai wāhi au ki te mihi ki taua rōpū, otirā, ki ngā kaimahi o Te Puni Kōkiri, ā, hei te pānuitanga tuatoru pea au, whakawhānui atu i taku mihi ki a koutou. Kei aku rangatira koinei te mihi o te ngākau koinei te mihi o te ngākau ki a koutou katoa, mō te papai o ngā mahi kua oti nei i a koutou, i a tātau. I tūtohu tana pūrongo, tā taku komiti tāku e kōrero nei kia āta whakamāramatia ngā mahi motuhake a Te Karauna, a Te Iwi Māori hoki, kia whāia ngātahitia ai he putanga pai ake mō Te Reo Māori. Nō te marama o Whiringa-a-nuku i whakaaetia e Te Rūnanga Kāwanatanga ngā whakahounga i takea mai i tēnei pūrongo ki te pire, i whakaurua ēnei hei tūtohutanga ki Te Komiti Take Māori. Kai te harikoa ahau ki te kī atu kua taunakitia e Te Komiti Take Māori ngā panonitanga ki te pire, ā, he ngākau tapatahi tā rātau mō te whakauru i ngā whakahounga katoa. Ka mihi ki a koutou ka tika e hoa mā! Ki ngā mema o Te Komiti Tāke Māori mō tā rātau mahi, tā koutou mahi i te roanga o te tau kua taha ake nei. E hoa mā, ka nui te mihi.

Ko te hua o tēnei, kua whakakahangia te pire i whakahokia pūrongotia atu ai. Ka whakatau tēnei i te tāpaetanga, me te ū tonu o Te Karauna ki Te Reo Māori. Mā tēnei Te Karauna, ngā iwi, a ngāi Māori hoki e herea ai ki te mahi ngātahi. He haepapatanga hoki tā tēnā, tā tēnā mō Te Reo Māori. Hei tuatahitanga whaiwhai hītori, kua whakahokia pūrongotia atu te pire nei hai pire reorua. Koinei te pire tuatahi ka whakamanatia i roto i Te Reo Māori, i te reo Pākehā hoki, ā, ki te ara he tohe, he raruraru rānei i waenganui i ngā whakaputanga e rua, ko te whakaputanga Māori tērā ka tino whāia! He mahi tika, ko Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori te pire tuatahi o tōna momo, kia kawea pēnei i roto i tēnei Whare, tae atu ki tōna whakaturetanga!

Ka paku kōrero mō ngā whakapanonitanga. Tuatahi, ka tū a Te Mātāwai hei rangatōpū ā-ture motuhake, e mahi ana mā ngā iwi, mā ngāi Māori hoki, kia tū hai kaiārahi i roto i te mahi toko ake i te ora Te Reo, me te mauri o Te Reo Māori mō ngā iwi, mō ngāi Māori, mō ngā hapori hoki. Hoianō, mā te rerenga aronga kai roto i te pire e tohu kaha i tōna hononga ki Te Karauna. E tutuki ai tēnei mā te āta tohu ki ngā aronga hoki o Te Mātāwai, he tautoko, he whakamōhio atu, he whakaaweawe hoki i ngā kaupapa Karauna, hei whakamarumaru, hei toko ake, hei whakarauora ake i Te Reo Māori.

Ka whakamana ā-ture te pire i ētahi rautaki Reo Māori hōu e rua. Nō Te Karauna te haepapatanga mō tētahi, arā, ko te Maihi Karauna, e hāngai atu ai ki ngā tāke ā-motu. Nō ngā iwi, nō ngāi Māori hoki te haepapatanga mā Te Mātāwai mō tērā atu, arā, ko Te Maihi Māori. Ka hāngai tērā ki ngā whāinga, ki ngā kaupapa here whai pānga ki ngā iwi, ki ngā hapū, ki ngā whānau, ki ngā hapori hoki. Ka tū tonu Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori me Te Māngai Pāho hei hinonga Karauna ēngari, tokotoru ngā mema o ngā mema poari, tokorima o ia hinonga ka tīkina mai i ngā tautapanga a Te Mātāwai.

Kei te hari koa au e pā ana ki te pire i whakahokia pūrongotia ai. Kua whakaritea hoki tētahi pepa Ōta tāpiri mā Te Komiti o Te Whare katoa. Ko te whāinga o tērā, ko te whakatika i ētahi āhuatanga rerekē i roto i ia whakaputanga reo o te ture. He take iti nei ēngari, he whakahōunga, he take mātanga hoki te āhua o aua whakahōunga. Hei whakakōpani i taku kōrero e Te Kaikōrero o Te Whare, ka tāpae atu au i tēnei pire ki Te Whare Pāremata hai wetewete me te mihi anō rā ki tēnā, ki tēnā o tātau i tēnei rā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa.

[Greetings, Mr Assistant Speaker. I move, That the Māori Language Bill be now read a second time. I preface my contribution with a traditional proverb: “Fasten above, fasten below, unify and bind, join the connections of people departed and living. Weave together the threads of humanity woven over vast distance and time from ancient homelands. Bind us into this world of light, let peace prevail, let us be steadfast and resolute!”.

As we are discussing the value of Māori language, it is appropriate that I begin with acknowledging the recently departed, who leave with us cherished memories: in particular, Dr Ranginui Walker, as well as Tāhuna Minhinnick, Roger Aranui, and many others. Special mention should also be made to Ērima, former chair of the Māori Language Commission. May you all join those who have already gathered beyond the distant horizon. And to us, the living, warm greetings, one and all.

In his speech to the House in July 2014, when moving the first reading of this bill, my predecessor, the Hon Sir Pita Sharples, then Minister of Māori Affairs, declared: “it is a treasure of both traditional tribes and Māoridom; it is an integral part of the cultural fabric of New Zealand.” He referred to the decline in the health of the Māori language over the past 120 years. In 1900 Māori was spoken by practically 100 percent of the Māori population. Within 70 years this had rapidly declined to approximately 20 percent, most of whom were elderly, themselves a declining population. It was predicted that the Māori language would die out, which caused alarm among Māori, not just for the loss of the language, but also at their own general situation, including their position, social status, and authority within their own country. Such was the state of decline that it would continue without significant, auspicious change.

The response was the Māori renaissance, which continues to this day. Māori language survival and revitalisation is a fundamental component of this renaissance. The Crown officially recognised the Māori language as a treasure of both traditional tribes and Māoridom through the Māori Language Act 1987, which also declared Māori a national language of New Zealand. We have seen the establishment and development of Māori language immersion preschools, primary schools, high schools, and now tertiary level institutions. Study of Māori language is now available in mainstream schools, in universities, and in other tertiary settings. We now have tribal-based radio stations, pan-tribal radio stations, and Māori Television—all services established to broadcast programming in the Māori language.

Despite our efforts for Māori language revitalisation, there remains a low uptake of people entering these domains. The introduction of this bill in 2014 was a response to the view that the Māori Language Act 1987 had become less effective in fulfilling aspirations for Māori language revitalisation. The purpose of the bill as introduced was to affirm the status of the Māori language as a treasure of both traditional tribes and Māoridom, and as an official language of New Zealand. Accordingly Te Mātāwai would be established as an independent statutory entity to provide leadership for both traditional tribal groupings and Māoridom in their role as custodians of the Māori language.

I now turn to the bill as reported back from the Māori Affairs Committee. It can be said that the bill has not had a swift passage through the select committee process. However, this is due to a number of important factors. First, it was introduced in August 2014 and sent to the select committee just before the 2014 general election. After the election, having taken on responsibility for the bill, I wanted to take a fresh look at it. Accordingly, I established an independent Māori Language Advisory Group to consider whether the bill could be improved and, if so, how. Some of them are present here in the gallery. They benefited from the submissions received through the select committee process. I also wanted to emphasise the role and responsibility of the Crown to protect and support the revitalisation of the Māori language.

The advisory group reported to me in June last year, and proposed a new model based on a working partnership between the Crown and Māori. It is appropriate for me to acknowledge that group now, as well as the Te Puni Kōkiri staff, and perhaps at the third reading I will have the opportunity to expand on some of these acknowledgments. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to each of you for the substantial contributions; indeed, from each and every one of us. The advisory group report recommended clarifying the distinctive roles of the Crown and of Māori to collectively pursue improved Māori language outcomes. In October Cabinet approved amendments to the bill based on this report, and these were included as recommendations for the Māori Affairs Committee. I am pleased to announce the Māori Affairs Committee has endorsed the changes to the bill and members have unanimously adopted all the amendments. It is only right that I acknowledge and thank the members of the Māori Affairs Committee for the significant undertaking throughout this past year. Members, thank you.

The result is that the bill as reported back has been strengthened. It recognises the contribution and ongoing commitment of the Crown to the Māori language. It requires both the Crown and Māori to work in partnership, each with roles and responsibilities for the Māori language. For the first time in history a bill has been reported back as a dual language bill. This is the first bill to be enacted in both Te Reo Māori and English, with the Māori text taking precedence in any inconsistency between the two versions. It is only appropriate that the Māori Language Bill is the first of this kind to proceed through the House to enactment.

A few brief comments regarding the amendments. First, Te Mātāwai will be an independent statutory entity, acting on behalf of both traditional tribes and Māoridom to provide leadership in promoting the health and well-being of the Māori language at tribal, at Māori, and at community levels. However, the purpose clause within the bill still strongly emphasises its relationship with the Crown, which will be achieved through the focus of Te Mātāwai to support, inform, and enhance Crown initiatives to protect, to promote, and to revitalise the Māori language.

The bill makes official two new Māori language strategies. The Crown has responsibility for one—namely, the Maihi Karauna, focusing on national level issues. The other—namely, the Maihi Māori—is the responsibility of both traditional tribes and Māoridom, represented through Te Mātāwai. It will focus on objectives and policies and related matters at tribal, sub-tribal, family, and community levels. The Māori Language Commission and Te Māngai Pāho will remain Crown entities; however, three of the five board members of each entity will be Te Mātāwai nominations.

I am pleased with the bill as reported back. A Supplementary Order Paper has also been prepared for the Committee of the whole House that seeks to address any drafting inconsistencies in the respective language versions of the bill. The amendments are minor and technical in nature. In concluding, I commend this bill to the House, and wish to thank once again everyone on this occasion. Greetings, greetings, one and all.]

Ko te pātai kia whakaaetia te mōtini.

[The question is that the motion be agreed to.]

Tuku mauri ora ki te wheiao ki te ao mārama, tihei wā mauri ora! Ka wehi tonu ahau ki tō tātou Kaihanga, nāna Te Reo Māori i hōmai, nāna Te Reo Māori e kaha tiaki ki roto i ngā tau, nāna anō hoki Te Reo Māori ka hāpai ki roto i ngā tau katoa kei mua i a tātau. Ka tautoko ahau i ngā kōrero me ngā tangi poroporoaki atu ki te hunga mate, ngā mate kua wahaina mai e Te Minita ki roto i tana kōrero.

I a au e rangahau ana i tēnei kaupapa Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori, ka pānui ahau i ngā kōrero totohe o tēnei Whare i ngā tau waru tekau i whakatū, i whakamana te Pire Tuatahi mō Te Reo Māori. Mehemea e whakaae ana e Te Māngai o Te Whare, ka pānui ahau i tētahi paku kōrero ka kitea ki roto i ngā totohe o aua waru tekau tau. E ai ki te mema e kīia nei ko tōna ingoa ko Mervyn Wellington: “… I suspect merely respond to the demands of the radical intellectuals, having identified the fact that it is the young university trained radicals coming out of the hands of Ranginui Walker.” Kāti, ka tangi atu ahau ki tērā tupu ao ō tātou kua ngaro atu ki te pō, rātau ki a rātau, e Te Minita, kua kōrero mai nā e koe i te ngākau o Pāpā, kāti, e tangi tonu ana ahau, otirā, te kāinga o Te Tai Tokerau, koutou te hunga wairua ki a koutou, e moe, e moe, okioki!

E tautoko ana ahau i ngā kōrero o te motu whānui, e mihi atu ana ki Te Minita me tana ngākau nui ki tō tātou Reo Māori. I hāpai ake i tēnei Pire Reo Māori, i mahue mai nei e Te Tākuta Tā Pita Sharples ki roto i tana kōnae mahi. Nō reira, e mihi atu ana au ki a ia, ki ōna āpiha katoa i whakapau werawera mō Te Reo te take. Ka mihi atu ahau ki Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri i ngā Take Māori, anā ko Te Heamana kai roto i Te Whare i tēnei wā, e Tūtehounuku, e mihi atu ana au ki a koe, me ngā mema katoa o Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri. E tautoko ana ahau ki ngā rōpū i awhi i tēnei kaupapa, mai i te pānuitanga tuatahi, tae noa mai ki tēnei wā. Kua kōrero mai Te Minita mō Te Rōpū Tohutohu Reo Māori. Ko tana kōrero e kī ana, ko ētahi kai roto i Te Whare i tēnei wā, e mihi atu ana.

E mihi atu ana ki tētahi atu rōpū e tautoko ana i tēnei kaupapa, arā, ko Te Paepae Motuhake mō ngā mahi katoa, mō ō rātou ki te hui ngātahi me te iwi Māori. Ko wai hoki, ko te motu whānui. E mihi atu ana au ki a rātou. E mihi atu ana ahau ki tērā kōrero a Te Minita e mea ana, ko te kākano o tēnei pire nā tērā rangatira o tātou, arā, ko Tā Pita Sharples. I manakohia ai kia whakahoki atu te mauri me te mana o tō tātou Reo Māori ki ngā iwi, ki ngā whānau, ki ngā otaota o te marae. Ki roto i te roanga ake o ngā totohe e pā ana ki tēnei pire, ka whakamātautau tātau mehemea ka tutuki taua hiahia. Ka whakamātautau tonu tātau mehemea kai roto i te roanga ake o tēnei pire me ōna whāinga katoa, ka tutuki i taua hiahia a Te Minita, a Tā Pita Sharples. Kāti, ka mihi atu ahau ki a ia me te whakaaro nui.

Kua roa rawa Te Rōpū Reipa e tautoko ana i Te Reo Māori. Kua kōrero ahau mō taku mahi rangahau i ngā kōrero me ngā totohe o ngā tau waru tekau kua pahure ake nei. Ka whakaaro ake ahau ki tērā tupu ō tātau a Te Honore Koro Wētere, me tana kaha ki te kawe ake i tō tātou Reo Māori ki roto i tēnei Whare. Ka whakaaro ake ahau e Te Māngai o Te Whare, mō te tūnga o Te Taura Whiri i taua tāima, me te whakamana i tō tātou Reo Māori ki roto i ngā ture, ki runga hoki i te mata o te whenua. Nō reira kai konei mātau e tautoko ana, kai konei mātou Te Rōpū Reipa e tautoko ana.

Ki roto i te roanga ake o taku kōrero me ngā kōrero o ōku hoa mahi, ka rongo i wētahi pātai kai roto tonu i a tātou, ka rongo i wētahi nawe, wētahi āwangawanga, ēhara i te mea he maunga ka kore e taea tātau te eke, kāhore! Ēngari, ka mea atu ki a koe e Te Minita, otirā, ki a tātou e Te Whare, koinei hoki ko ngā kōrero a te iwi Māori ka hoki mai ki a au, otirā, ki a mātau ki roto i wā mātau mahi.

Nō reira, kāti; ka huri atu ahau ki te pire. Ka huri atu ahau ki tēnei pire e mihi atu ana ki te whakaaro nui, ka whakamanahia tēnei pire ki roto i Te Reo Māori me te reo Pākehā. Āe mārika, ka mihi atu ahau ki te hunga whakamāori; i whakamāori i ngā kōrero Pākehā. Kātahi au ka pānui i te pire ki roto i Te Reo Māori me taku papakupu hei whai atu i ngā kōrero katoa kai roto, kātahi rā te ātaahua ō tō tātou Reo Māori. E mihi atu ana au ki Te Minita me tana kaha ki te whakarongo ki te iwi, ki ngā pahupahu o tēnei ki roto i ngā tau kua pahure ake nei.

Kua roa rawa au e mea ana, kai hea Te Reo mō te hunga noho tāone? Kai hea Te Reo mō te mātatorutanga o Te Iwi Māori ka noho ki roto i tōku wāhi pōti o Tamaki-makau-rau? Nā, kua rongo i Te Minita, e hari koa ana. E hari koa ana ahau, ka whai tūranga te hunga noho tāone ki runga i Te Poari o Te Mātāwai. Nō reira, ka mihi atu ahau ki tērā āhuatanga. Ka mihi atu anō hoki tēnei ki te whakaaro nui o tōku pāpā, me tōku tuakana a Pita Paraone e noho mai nei. Ka pupuri tonu tātau Te Iwi Māori, otirā, te motu whānui o Aotearoa i Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori. Kia kaua e motuhia i aua taura, kia tuku pai, kia tiaki pai i tō tātou Reo Māori me ōna nekehanga katoa, nō reira, ka mihi atu ahau ki tērā whakaaro nui e Te Minita.

Ko ētahi o ngā take ka puta mai ki roto i wā mātou whiriwhiri i te take nei ko tētahi, kua roa rawa mātau e mea atu ana, he aha te take o te kākahu Pākehā ki runga i te taonga Māori? He aha te take kia whakatūngia i ētahi atu peka o te Kāwanatanga hai whakahaere i tō Tātou Reo Māori? Ko te hiahia me te whāinga matua o Tā Pita Sharples, i a ia e kōkiri ana i tēnei take, kia whakahokia atu te mana ki ngā iwi, ki ngā whānau, ki ngā hapū. Ko reira te oranga o te iwi Māori. Nō reira, he aha te take o tētahi atu peka hei arataki, hei tiaki i tō tātou Reo Māori? Ko tēnā te kōrero, ko te kākahu Pākehā ki runga i te taonga Māori. Ko tētahi atu, ka pātai atu mātau i te āhuatanga o Te Mātāwai, e kīia nei, ā, ka tukuna mā te tokoiti hei whakahaere, hei kawe ake i Te Reo o te tokomaha.

I a mātou o Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri i ngā Take Māori e noho ana ki te whakarongo ki ngā kōrero e pā ana ki tēnei pire, i puta mai tētahi kōrero ātaahua rawa atu, ā, e ki atu ana ki a tātau, nō Ngāti Hine tēnei kōrero, ko wā rātau, anā, nā Te Waihoroi. Hei tāna, e mōhio ana tātau katoa ki ngā kau kai roto i te pāmu o Te Reo Māori, i tēnei wā tonu. E mōhio ana tātau, he aha ngā kau kai roto i te pāmu. Ko te hiahia, ā, kai hea ngā kau e hiahia ana kia uru mai ki roto i te pāmu hai whāngai i tō tātou Reo Māori, hei kawe ake ki roto i ngā tau kai mua i a tātau. Anā, ko ngā ingoa o aua kau, ko Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga. Anā, ko te ingoa o aua kau ko ngā tari Kāwanatanga kua roa rawa e aukati, kua roa rawa e pēhi ana i tō tātou Reo Māori ki raro. Kāti, he kōrero tēnā i kohia e mātou ki roto i wā mātou mahi whiriwhiri kōrero mō te take o Te Reo Māori.

Ko tētahi atu take, he aha nei te whāinga matua? E mōhio ana tātau i te hiahia o Te Minita tawhito, a Tā Pita Sharples, mō Te Reo Māori ēngari, ki roto i te pire, e ka waihona atu mā tātau anō ngā whāinga matua e tohutohu, e kimi, horekau he raru mō tēnā. Ēngari, e mōhio ana tātau katoa ki roto i ngā whakatipuranga e toru tātau ka kite he aha nei ngā hua. Nō reira, ka whakaaro ake, me kimi tonu tātau he aha nei te whāinga matua mā tātau hai kawe ake ki roto i ngā tau kei mua i a tātau.

Ko tētahi atu, e pā ana ki te wāhanga tuatahi o te pire, e mea ana ko te mahi arotake i te pire nei. Ka tukuna atu mā te toru tau, ā, ka mutu te toru tau ka arotakengia e tātau te mahi o Te Mātāwai me ngā hua katoa o tēnei pire. Kai konei mātau, e aro haehae ana i ngā nekehanga o tēnei Kāwanatanga mehemea, ka tutuki pai ngā moemoeā me ngā hiahia o Te Iwi Māori mō Te Reo te take.

Hai whakakapi ake, ka hoki atu ahau ki tērā kōrero mō ngā whāinga matua o tēnei pire. Ka whakaaro ake ahau ki ngā whare tupuna ka tū ki runga i ngā marae puta noa, ko reira ngā maihi o ngā whare. Nā, kua kōrero mai te pire nei, ko te maihi Māori, ko te maihi Kāwanatanga, i a au e mātakitaki atu ana ki ngā whare e noho wahangū ki runga i te motu whānui, ka whakaaro ake ka pēhea wēnei maihi e kōrero? Mā te tangata ngā maihi e kōrero, kāti, ka waiho anake tēnā whakaaro hei whakaaroaro mā tātau katoa ki roto i te roanga o tō mātau totohe i te pō nei. Ka rongo koe i ngā kōrero a ōku hoa mahi, kāti, huri tua atu ki a tātou katoa, e Te Minita, e Te Māngai o Te Whare; tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa.

[Let the breath of life come from the dawn to the world of the light; behold the breath of life. I pay homage to our creator, who gave us the Māori language; he carefully nurtured the language over the years and he will assist in its maintenance in the years to come. I support the words and lamentations expressed for the deceased, including those deceased mentioned in the Minister for Māori Development’s speech.

While I was researching this matter, the Māori Language Bill, I read the various debates that occurred in the House in the 1980s, when the first Māori Language Act was enacted. If the Assistant Speaker approves, I want to read a little excerpt that I found in those debates of the 1980s. According to a member called Mervyn Wellington: “… I suspect merely respond to the demands of the radical intellectuals, having identified the fact that it is the young university trained radicals coming out of the hands of Ranginui Walker.” Enough, I grieve for that genius of ours who has vanished into the night. Minister, you mentioned my father and his inclinations; alas, I still grieve for him, and, indeed, so do the people of Northland. May all the deceased abide with the deceased; sleep and rest in peace.

I support the acknowledgments from all around the country directed to the Minister for his passion for our Maori language. He continued with the Māori Language Bill left by Sir Pita Sharples in his portfolio. So I want to thank him and all of his officials, who expended a lot of effort for the language. I want to thank the Māori Affairs Committee and the chairman who is in the House at this moment. I salute you, Tūtehounuku, and all the members of the select committee. I support all the parties who embraced this matter from the time of the first reading until now. The Minister has spoken of the Māori Language Advisory Group. He mentioned in his contribution that some were present in the House; I acknowledge them.

I want to pay tribute to another group that supports this matter, and that is the Paepae Motuhake, for its great efforts in meeting with the Māori people; indeed, with people from all around the country. I congratulate it. I want to acknowledge the words of the Minister when he said that the seeds of this bill were planted by that esteemed leader of ours, Sir Pita Sharples. It was his desire to return the responsibility for the life force and authority of the language to the tribes, to the families, and back to the arena of the marae. For the duration of this debate, we will be examining if indeed this will come about. We will still examine throughout the duration of this bill and its aims the question of whether the will of the previous Minister, Sir Peter Sharples, will be realised. So I thank him for his great idea.

The Labour Party has supported the Māori language for a long time now. I have talked about my research on the discussions and debates that took place in the 1980s. I am reminded of that other genius of ours, the Hon Koro Wētere, and his perseverance in bringing the Māori language to the attention of this House. I am also reminded of the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori at that time, and the enactment of legislation that made our language the official language of this country. Therefore, we are supporting this bill. The Labour Party supports this bill.

Throughout the period of my speech and from the comments of my work colleagues, you would have realised that we have questions. You would have heard some concerns and some complaints. It is not as though it is an insurmountable mountain for us; indeed not. However, I would say to you, Minister, and to us in the House, that these are the thoughts of the Māori people that I hear; indeed, what we all hear in our work.

Therefore, I return to the bill. I turn to this bill and acknowledge an important aspect, which is that this bill will be given effect to in the Māori language and the English language. Yes, indeed, I want to thank the Māori translators who translated the English version. When I read the Māori version of the bill, I needed to have my dictionary alongside me. What a beautiful language we have. I want to acknowledge the Minister and his tenacity in listening to the people, and their commentary on this matter over the years past.

I have for some time now wondered, where does the language feature in terms of those who live in the cities? Where is the language for the majority of Māori who live in my electorate of Auckland? The Minister has heard, and I am pleased. I am satisfied that the urban dwellers will have a position on the board of Te Mātāwai. So I acknowledge that point. I want to also acknowledge the great thought of my father and my elder cousin, Pita Paraone, who is present here. We, the Māori people, indeed the whole country, retain the Māori Language Commission, so that we do not sever those connections that deliver and care for our Māori language and all related aspects. So I acknowledge that very important gesture, Minister.

Other points that came out of our discussions on this matter, and we have been saying this for some time now—why throw a Pākehā cloak over a Māori treasure to run it? The desire and primary goal of Sir Pita Sharples during his research was to return the mandate to the tribes, families, and sub-tribes. Its well-being is there! Therefore, why have another branch to lead and look after our Māori language? That is what “a Pākehā cloak over a Māori treasure” is on about. Furthermore, we question the situation concerning Te Mātāwai, which states that this minority group will administer and be responsible for the language of the multitude.

When the Māori Affairs Committee was convened to listen to the submissions in regard to the bill, there was a poignant remark made—and I must say it emanated from Ngāti Hine. It was made by Te Waihoroi, and he said that we all know about the cows that are on the Māori language farm at this very moment, and we know why those cows are on the farm. Is there a need for more? Where are the cows that are willing to enter the farm and impart our Māori language, and take it into the future? Well! One of the names of those cows is the Ministry of Education, and those cows are all Government departments that have been suppressing our language for a long time now. Anyway this was a contribution that was taken on board in our deliberation on the issues of the Māori language.

Another point that we are all aware of is what is the main goal? We know what the previous Minister, Sir Pita Sharples, desired for the Māori language, but in the bill it is left for us to take advice on and to seek. There is no problem with that. We all know there will be three generations before we will see what the benefits are. Therefore, I think that we are still trying to ascertain what the main aim is for us in taking our language into the future.

On another matter regarding Part 1 of the bill, where it mentions the review of this bill: at the end of 3 years the work of Te Mātāwai will be reviewed, along with all the other outcomes of this bill. We empathise with the undertakings of this Government and hope that the wishes of the Māori people in regard to the language are realised.

In conclusion, I go back to that comment about the main goals of this bill. I think of all the ancestral houses that stand on all the marae around the country. That is where you will find the maihi of the ancestral houses. Now this bill makes reference to the Maihi Māori and the Maihi Government, and I reflect on all the ancestral houses that are sitting in silence around the country. I wonder how these maihi will speak; humans are required to make them talk. Anyway, I will leave that thought for all of us to consider over the course of further debate this afternoon, when you will hear from my colleagues; so enough from me. I turn now to face us all, Minister and Mr Assistant Speaker; greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you and to us all.]

E mihi atu ki koe e Te Mana Whakawā, ā, tēnei te mihi o te mema o Te Whare Paremata, e huri noa i Te Whare me mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He hōnore tēnei mōkū ki te tū ki konei hei Heamana o Te Komiti mō ngā Take Māori, he tūraka kua noho au ina tekau mā ono mārama kua hipa. I roto i te wā kua wānaka tā mātou komiti i ētahi pire, he nui tonu. Ki a mātou, he mea nui rāwa atu ngā pire whakatau kerēme, Tiriti. He whakatikatika i ngā mahi o mua, hei awhina ki te whakatipu i te ōhaka o Te Iwi Māori. E whakapono ai au ko tēnei te pire nui rawa atu kua wānaka mātou. Mā tēnei hanganga ture ka rerekē ngā kawenga mō te ora o Te Reo Māori. Kia tae ki te pānui tuatoru o te pire, ka kōrero whānui au mō ngā painga, hoia, i te rā nei, ko taku hiahia kia kōrero mō ngā āhuataka o te pire, me te huarahi i whāia kia tae ai tātou ki tēnei pānuitaka tuarua.

Ko tētahi tirohaka o te pire nei, he mea auaha i te wā o Tā Pita Sharples. Nāna hoki i mau mai ki Te Whare i te rā i puta tana kauhau mutuka. I taku kuhunga mai ki Te Pāremata, ka eke hei heamana o Te Komiti mō ngā Take Māori, kite tonu au i te nui o te mahi nei me te mea kia tika tonu. Kua rongo ki ngā tohetohe nei mēnā ko te pire nei te huarahi tika, kāore rānei. Ahakoa he aha te kaupapa, ka tohea tonutia te huarahi tika hei whāingahia, ko te mea ki ahau kia whānui, kia hōhonu ngā whiriwhiringa i te pire nei.

I te hui tuatahi ake o Te Komiti mō Ngā Take Māori o tēnei Te Pāremata e rima tekau mā tahi, ka puta tā mātou pānui kia tukua mai he kōrero tāpaetaka. Ka tono āwhina mātou i Te Puni Kōkiri mō ngā tono i whiwhi rātou me ngā whitiwhitinga kōrero i tū. Waihoki, ka hoki Te Minita mō ngā Take Māori ki te titiro anō i te pire nei. I te mārama o Tīhema i tērā tau ka whakatū e ia Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri i Te Reo Māori. Ko te mahi a tēnei rōpū he whakatakoto whakaaro motuhake mō te pire, me ngā rerekētaka ka taka mai. I noho motuhake Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri i Te Reo Māori i ngā mahi a te komiti. Hoia, i puritia e mātou ā mātou whiriwhiringa mō te pire kia mutu rā anō ngā mahi a Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri. Nō te mārama o Hune i tērā tau, ka tae mai te pūrongo a Te Rōpū Whiriwhiri ki te aroaro o Te Minita, ā, nō te mārama o Oketopa ka whakaaetia ngā panonitaka e Te Rūnanga Kāwanataka. I wānaka, i tautoko te komiti i ēnei panonitaka.

E whai iho nei ko ngā whakarerekētaka matua: tuatahi, kua takoto ki te pire he kōrero i Te Reo Māori o ngā kōrero Ingarihi. He mea tino nui rawa atu tēnei, kotahi anake te pire kua takoto katoa ngā kōrero i Te Reo Māori me Te Reo Ingarihi, hoia, ko tēnei te wā tuatahi me te pire tuatahi, ka noho rite te kaha o tēnā reo, me tēnā reo. Ki te tohea te tikanga o waenganui i te tuhinga ā-Reo Māori me te tuhinga ā-reo Ingarihi, ka arongia ko te tuhinga Reo Māori. Tuarua, tērā tētahi atu whakarerekētaki nui, ko te whiti e mea ai he taoka Te Reo Māori o ngā iwi me Te Māori, ko te reo taketake ia o Aotearoa, he mea nui rawa ki tēnei whenua. Tuatoru, i te tuhinga tuatahitaka o Te Ture, e mea ana kia tangohia Te Taura Whiri me Te Mangai Pāho tā rāua tūraka hei hinonga Karauna, kia noho mai hei hinonga ā-ture noa iho. Ka tūtohu mātou kia kuhuna he panonitaka ki te pupuri i te tūraka o ēnei hinonga, hei hinonga Karauna. Mā tēnei ka noho tonu rāua i raro i Te Ture mō Ngā Pūtea Tūmatanui. Ko ngā mahi me ngā whakapaunga putea, ka noho tonu i raro i Te Pāremata.

Tuawhā, ko tētahi atu mea kua tūtohu mātou kia panonitia, ki ahau, he mea nui tēnei, ko te whakatū kia rua ngā rautaki mō Te Reo Māori. Ka noho a Maihi Karauna ki raro i ngā kawenga o Te Karauna, ko tāna he titiro ki ngā kaupapa ā-motu. He kōrero nui tēnei kei roto i te pire. E ai ki ētahi, mā tēnei e whakakapi te whāwhārua i te tuhinga tuatahi o te pire, arā, kei Te Karauna te kawenga kia whakatairangatia, kia tiakina Te Reo Māori. Ko tērā atu o ngā rautaki kīia ai ko Maihi Māori. Kei Te Mātāwai ōna kawenga mō ngā iwi Māori me Te Maori. Ka noho ēnei rautaki e rua hei whakaatu atu, he mea nui kia rite, kia tika te pire ki ngā taha katoa. Ka whakahokia e te pire te tūraka o Te Māori hei kaitiaki o te taoka kamehameha.

Hāunga tērā, he mea nui tonu kia kaua te pire e unu i te kawenga o Te Karauna nāna nei Te Tiriti i waitohu, ki te tiaki me te hāpai i Te Reo. Whakapono au nā runga i ngā whakahounga, ka noho te pire ki te wāhi tika e rite ai ēnei whainga nui e rua. Kei te whakapūmautia te kawenga o Te Karauna mā tētahi whakahounga ki te kaupapa a Te Mātāwai te wāhi e mea ai, “Te Minita mō ngā Take Māori” ka hurihia ki “Ngā Minita o Te Karauna.” Mā tēnei e whakaatu atu, ēhara i te mea, ka noho ngā kawenga o Te Karauna ki runga i ngā pakihiwi o Te Minita kotahi ēngari, kei runga i Te Kāwanatanga katoa.

Tērā anō whakahounga kei pōhēhē ētahi he mea iti noa, hoia, ki ahau he mea nui te kake ake i te tokomaha kei runga i Te Mātāwai atu i te tekau mā rua ki te tekau mā toru. Nā te tapiritanga o tētahi māngai mō te hunga Māori i ngā tāone, ka piki te rahi ki te tekau mā toru. Ahakoa te nuinga o ngā tākata o Te Mātāwai kei reira hei kanohi mō ngā iwi, me aro tonu tātou ki te nui o tātou tae rawa ki te hunga rakatahi, kei te noho ki ngā tāone. He nui rātou kei te noho tawhiti i ō rātou iwi kua motu rānei te here ki te iwi. Ahakoa tērā, kia whai wāhi tonu rātou hei kaitiaki o Te Reo Māori.

Me kī, ko ngā reo o te rakatahi nui rawa atu i roto i tēnei mahi. E kore pea, e nui ngā rerekētaka i roto i te wā poto. Ēngari, ki te tika tēnei mahi, ko ā tātou tamariki ka whiwhi i tētahi reo ora, reo kaha, reo kōrerotia. E mihi atu ana ki a koutou katoa.

[This member of the House acknowledges you, Mr Assistant Speaker, and all of you throughout the House. It is an honour for me to stand here as chairman of the Māori Affairs Committee, a position I have held for the past 16 months, during which time our committee has considered some very important bills. Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills are of great importance to us, as they address past grievances and assist the economic growth of Māoridom. I believe this to be perhaps the most significant bill we have considered. This new legislation will alter responsibilities in regard to Māori language revitalisation. When it reaches its third reading, I will elaborate on the benefits. Suffice to say, today I will simply discuss aspects of the bill and the process we followed to bring it to second reading stage.

One perspective is that the bill was created during the time Sir Pita Sharples was here, and he introduced it on the day he gave his valedictory speech. When I entered Parliament and was elected as chairman of the Māori Affairs Committee, it was obvious to me that this was a big piece of work and we had to get it right. There was already dissent about whether the approach was right or not. Regardless of what approach would be followed it would be debated, so it was apparent to me the consultation on this bill would have to be wide and comprehensive.

At the very first meeting of the Māori Affairs Committee of the 51st Parliament we called for submissions. We sought advice from Te Puni Kōkiri on the submissions it had received and the consultation it had undertaken. In addition, the Minister for Māori Development decided to take another look at this bill. In December that year he established the Māori Language Advisory Group. The purpose of this group was to provide independent advice on the bill and on any changes that emerged. The Māori Language Advisory Group work was independent of the work carried out by the committee. However, we did put our consideration of the bill on hold until the advisory group had completed its activities. In June 2015 the advisory group reported back to the Minister, and in October the changes were approved by Cabinet. After careful consideration the committee also supported the changes.

The key changes are as follows. Firstly, a Te Reo translation of the English has been inserted in the bill. This is very significant, as there has been only one other bill where the text is in both Māori and English; however, this is the first bill where both languages are of equal validity. If the meaning between the Māori and English is contested, it is the Māori version that will take precedence. Secondly, another significant change is the line that refers to the Māori language as being a treasure of Māori tribes and of Maoridom; it is the indigenous language of New Zealand and valued by the nation. Thirdly, in the first draft of the bill it stated that the Māori Language Commission and the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency would lose their status as Crown entities to become statutory entities only. We recommended that the entities retain their status as Crown entities and, in so doing, remain under the Public Finance Act, where their activities and expenditure would remain under the Crown.

Fourthly, another thing we recommended, and which I believe is significant, was the establishment of two Te Reo Māori strategies. The Maihi Karauna—Crown Strategy—will remain the responsibility of the Crown and focus on national-level issues. This is prominent in the bill, and some say it covers the gaps in the first draft of the bill in terms of the Crown being responsible for promoting and protecting the Māori language. The other strategy is referred to as the Maihi Māori, which will be the responsibility of Te Mātāwai on behalf of Māori tribes and Māoridom. These dual strategies represent the important balancing act that is required in this bill. The bill reiterates the role of Māori as guardian of the great treasure.

That aside, it is important that the bill does not allow the Crown to relinquish its responsibility as one who signed the Treaty to protect and promote the Māori language. The responsibility of the Crown is reinforced in an amendment to the purpose of Te Mātāwai, where “the Minister of Māori Affairs” is replaced by “Ministers of the Crown”. This ensures that the Crown responsibilities are not left on the shoulders of one Minister alone, but on all of the Government.

One further amendment, which some may consider minor, but to me is quite significant, is to bump up the membership of Te Mātāwai from 12 to 13. This change results from the addition of a representative for urban Māori. Although most of Te Mātāwai membership will represent traditional tribal groupings, credence still needs to be afforded to the broader urban and youth population, many of whom are displaced from traditional tribal regions and populations. Despite this, they still have a stake as guardians of the Māori language.

It could be said that the voice of the youth is perhaps the most important throughout this process. Dramatic changes are not expected overnight; however, if done correctly, our children will inherit a thriving, strong, spoken language. I acknowledge you all.]

Ko te wā kai tēnei; ka hoki mai ā te 7.30 p.m.

[This is the dinner break; we will come back at 7.30 p.m.]

Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

💬 NUK KORAKO: He roa te wā kia hoki mai te pire nei ki Te Whare, heoi, ka whakapono au ka hoki mai he pire pakari, ko te mutuka iho ka hua anō, he rua pakari. Ka whaiwhaitia e au tēnei pire ki te aroaro o Te Whare. Nō reira, e koutou mā, he mihi, he mihi, he mihi atu ki a koutou. Kia ora.

[This bill has taken a long time to come back to the House, but I believe it comes back a robust one and, at the end of it all, a fruitful one too and sturdier twice-over. I will follow this bill that is before the House. So to you at large, I acknowledge, commend, and applaud you collectively. Thank you.]

Tēnā tātou katoa, tuatahi e tāpiri ana i aku whakaaro ki a rātou kua whetūrangitia, rātou nō te kāinga, tēnei ka tukuna aku mihi maioha: ki a pāpā Matua Dick Rākena nō Ngāti Tamaterā, ki tērā rangatira rongonui o Te Whakatōhea, a Ranginui Walker. Tērā kuia o tō mātou nei rangatira nō Waikato a Vivien Tapa, nō Ngāti Korokī, arā, ki a koe Tāhuna, ko koe tētehi o ngā māia hoki, ngā toa kei waenganui i a Ngāti Kīato, e moe, e moe!

E tū ana ki te whakatakoto i ētehi o ngā whakaaro e pā ana ki tēnei pire, ki tēnei wāhanga o te pire. E tika ana, e tautoko ana a Reipa i tēnei wāhanga me ngā momo kōrero kua puta mai i mua i te aroaro o Te Komiti Whiriwhiri. Mēnā ka whakarāpopotohia ētehi o ngā whakaaro, ka penei te whakaputa atu. Ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe Minita. I whāia e koe te rori pikopiko, nau i whakatinanahia tērā rotarota, a Robert Frost. Ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe nā te mea, i te tīmatatanga o tēnei wāhanga, ka whakaaro ake te komiti me waiho. I tukuna te pire tuatahi kia mutu taua wāhanga, ā, tīmata anō koe ēngari, nā runga i tō hiahia ki te whakapūmau, ki te whakaū ki tērā hiahia o tō rangatira a Tā Pita, ka haere tonu tēnei mahi, ahakoa ngā piki me ngā heke, ahakoa te roa rawa o ngā āhuatanga ki tēnei pire. Heoi anō, he wāhanga anō mō te komiti hei āta wānanga i ngā nawe i puta mai i mua i tō mātou aroaro, me te wawāhi i ngā kōrero kia āta whakaarohia, ka pēwhea, ka pēwhea, anā, kua kite koe i ētehi o ngā whakaaro o te komiti. Kua kite mātou ētehi o ngā whakaaro kua whakahokia mai e tō komiti motuhake ki waenganui i a mātou, ā, ka pai! Kua titiro ake ki te painga o tērā mahi, ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe. Ko ēnei take, kāre ano i tutuki pai i tā mātou komiti.

I whakaaro mātou, nā runga i te ngākau nui ki Te Reo Māori, me kuhu tētehi wāhanga hei whakapāha atu a Te Karauna ki Te Iwi Māori mō ā rātou ture patu i tō tātou Reo Māori. Ahakoa i wānangahia tērā, kāre i whai wāhi ki te whakatinana i tērā o ngā hiahia. Nō reira, kāre i uru mai tētehi whakapāha mō tērā tūāhuatanga. Ko tētehi anō e pā ana ki ngā mahi a Te Taura Whiri me Te Māngai Pāho. Kua tae mai ētehi me ō rātou nei whakaaro me tū motuhake tonu aua tari, me ā rātou nei mahi hei noho whakaruruhau ki te hāpai i ngā āhuatanga o Te Rautaki Reo Māori. Kei te pai, kua kite i tērā!

E pā ana ki ngā maihi. Kua whai whakaaro mātou ki tēnei tūāhuatanga mēnā ka tū Te Maihi Karauna me Te Maihi Māori ki te taha, me kī, ki te whakaatū atu ki Te Karauna me ngā iwi, anei ngā pou o Te Whare, ka pēwhea te whakatinanahia? Kei roto i tēnei pire ētehi o ngā wāhanga hei tuitui i ēnei rautaki kia whakatīnanahia tēnei tūāhuatanga mō Te Mātāwai. Ū, kua tae mai ētehi o ngā tāngata nō te tāone me ō rātou nei hiahia, me whakawāwāhitia tētēhi tūranga mō rātou, nā, kua tutuki tērā wāhanga. Koinā ētehi o ngā whakarāpopoto mō ngā tīnihanga hei whakamanatia, me kī, ngā nawe i haria mai i mua i te aroaro o te komiti. Ka tika, me kōrero atu ki tērā!

Ki roto i a au, mēnā, kei roto i tō whatumanawa Te Reo o ō mātua tūpuna, kei reira te tīmatanga o tō tātou nei Reo Māori kia ora ai. Ahakoa ka whakaturengia tēnei pire, ko te tino whakatinanahia o tēnei wawata o ō tātou nei mātua tūpuna, kei waenganui i te whānau, kei waenganui i tō iwi hei hāpai i tērā tūāhuatanga mō ngā whakatupuranga. Nō reira, i tēnei wā ka nui te mihi atu ki ērā momo, a Te Rangihau, arā, a Heikōkō Mataira, a Ngāhina Teuira, me Mīria Simpson ērā tangata e kaha ana i ō rātou wā i waenganui i ngā whare wānanga, ki te kawe i ngā kaupapa pēnei ki mua i te aroaro o ngā tāngata ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō whea. Kia kore ai au e noho tonu ki roto i Te Reo Māori ki te whakawhānui ake i ēnei kōrero ki te nuinga, ka huri au ki te reo Pākehā.

[Greetings, everyone, but first of all I add my thoughts and tributes to those from back home who have departed: to the father figure Uncle Dick Rākena of Ngāti Tamaterā, and that widely acclaimed academic from Te Whakatōhea, Ranginui Walker. To this matriarch of ours from Waikato Vivien Tapa of Ngāti Korokī, and indeed to you, Tāhuna, one of the capable and bold ones amongst Ngāti Kīato, rest, sleep.

I rise to express some views that relate to this bill. It is fitting that Labour endorse this part and the various thoughts that have been put before the Māori Affairs Committee, which considered this bill. If these views were summarised, this is how they would be expressed. I commend you highly, the Minister for Māori Development. You chose a path that meandered this way and that but, in doing so, brought the world of Robert Frost to life. I really commend you because at the start of this process the committee had considered abandoning it, but because of your commitment to ensure that the goal set by your former leader, Sir Pita, was fulfilled, this process continued despite the ups and downs, and regardless of the lengthy delays in regard to circumstances that concerned this bill. Nevertheless, there was a part that came before the committee that had to be considered, analysed, and examined by the committee until a way forward was found. You have seen some of the conclusions the committee arrived at. We have seen some of the views expressed by your advisory group that it sent back for our consideration, and that is fine. We have looked at the positives that came out of that collaboration and acknowledge your high input into those benefits, Minister. Some of these issues have yet to be resolved by our committee.

Because of the enthusiastic attitude towards the Māori language, we considered that an apology from the Crown to Māoridom should be inserted because of the detrimental effect that its laws had on our Māori language. Despite the debate over it, that one of our wishes was not implemented. Another issue concerned the roles of the Māori Language Commission and the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency. Some came with their views that the independent roles of these agencies should remain so that they can continue to foster and support aspects of the Māori Language Strategy. That is fine; we have seen that.

Now, in terms of the maihi. We have considered this situation: if the Crown and Māoridom maihi are placed on the side, let us say to demonstrate to the Crown and Māoridom that here are the pillars of the house, how will it be implemented? Contained in this bill are some sections that can be drawn together to manifest these strategies as far as Te Mātāwai is concerned. And so some people representing the interests of urban-based groups have arrived with their hopes that a position be brokered for them. This has been done. These are some of the summarised modifications, shall we say, to be mandated in terms of the grievances that were brought before the committee, and which rightfully need to be addressed.

In my personal view, if you have the language of your ancestors in your heart, that is where the revitalisation of our language will begin from. Even if this bill is mandated, the manifestation of these aspirations of our ancestors is really within the family and the support of the tribe for future generations. Appropriately, at this time, I too would like to acknowledge the likes of Te Rangihau, Heikōkō Mataira, Ngāhina Teuira, and Mīria Simpson, who worked tirelessly in the universities to bring policies like these to the attention of all people, regardless of who they were and where they were from. In order that I do not remain speaking only in Māori, I do wish to elaborate on these statements to the wider audience in English.]

This Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill is an opportunity for us to, I think, ensure that its aims and intents reflect the highest aspirations of what we would like to see for this country, and that is that Te Reo Māori is the flourishing language for every New Zealander. It is by no coincidence that just this morning we had two young women come before our Māori Affairs Committee with their aspiration to have a national day of significance—Māori and Pākehā coming together. We asked the question: in 20 years’ time, if we were to have a day such as this commemorated, what would New Zealand look like? Two words—proud, united. As well, Te Reo Māori is one of those types of issues that can ensure that every New Zealander is proud about where we come from and the place of our language in this country.

Many changes were made to the bill. As I said previously, we did try to encourage the Minister to actually dismiss the bill and start again—to give himself free rein, so to speak. But the Minister was absolutely sure that notwithstanding the challenges of the imperfect bill that was tabled in this House, he wanted to maintain the essence of what was trying to be achieved, which is a new way forward for upholding our ambition to see Te Reo Māori as a language that all New Zealanders can draw from, draw strength from, and draw identity from but also uphold in a way that reflects the type of country that we are. It was not easy. It was not easy because there were a number of craggy issues, and I have outlined some of them. In the Committee stage, we will probably highlight in more detail some of those aspects, but can I say that in terms of the substance of the changes, they give us, as the Māori Affairs Committee, enough confidence to believe it is a starting place. It is by no means a finishing place.

My colleague Peeni Henare identified that the review will be very significant because this is a new way forward. It is the first significant piece of legislation that will be written in Te Reo Māori, and the status of Te Reo Māori within our legislative system will be elevated. It will be an opportunity for the Crown to think in a very uniform way about how it upholds its obligations to have targets and achieve some more uniform ways to embrace Te Reo Māori.

More fundamentally than that, it is an opportunity for New Zealand to consider its ongoing commitment to the indigenous language of this country. With that, I still regret that the committee was not in a position to be able to come up with the type of apology that the Crown could make on Parliament’s behalf for the systemic destruction of our identity through the loss of language, through the institutionalisation of the Native Schools Act, and through English being the only language heard. All of us can tell a story about our grandparents being beaten for speaking Māori, but I tell you what, it did not beat it out of their hearts that they had to uphold their language. It is with regret that we could not do that as a very important gesture to show that we have moved on, that this country is moving on, and that Te Reo Māori should be a language that is normalised in the lexicon of every New Zealander, no matter where they come from to stay here. This is a language that belongs to everybody. Nō reira, ki a tātou katoa, tēnā tātou. [And so, thank you to us all.]

Kia ora. I stand proud to take a short call on the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill, in its second reading, sponsored by the Minister for Māori Development, the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell. I want to acknowledge, before I start my contribution, the late rangatira and Māori Language Commissioner Ērima Hēnare for his leadership and his contribution to the health and growth of the Māori language in our country. Moe mai, moe mai, e te rangatira [rest and sleep, esteemed one.]

I also want to acknowledge the former Minister for Māori Affairs Tā Dr Pita Sharples for the work that he began and for leaving so much of the hard yakka, really, to our Minister for Māori Development, the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell, who has done, I think, a fabulous job and a challenging job.

I want to take a brief walk down memory lane a little bit, mainly because we must not forget the hard work that has taken place to get us here today. I want to talk a little bit about my father, because my father was a fluent Te Reo Māori speaker. He hailed from Te Araroa on the East Coast and, as the Hon Nanaia Mahuta explained towards the end of her contribution, he was one of those kids in the 1930s and 1940s who got whacked for speaking Māori at school. He brought us up in a little place called Rangiwāhia and did not encourage us, his children, to speak Te Reo Māori at all. At times when we went to our school, which was predominantly Pākehā, the only Māori that we got was Māori Day, where we got to sing a few Māori songs. So as we grew up as adults he was not surprised that his children pursued the learning of Te Reo Māori. There are four of us in our family. Two speak Māori fluently and two do not.

I want to note some dates in my contribution. As I was preparing myself for this very important contribution tonight, I took a little bit of a look down at whereabouts we have come from. I started with 1980 when Television New Zealand opened up, for the first time in broadcasting history, a Māori production unit. It was a very good start, and 2 years later, in 1982, the first kōhanga reo was set up, and now we have over 450 kōhanga reo. But that came because in 1930, 90 percent of our Māori children—tamariki—spoke Māori, but by 1975 it was only 9 percent who spoke Māori.

At that time, there was a strong view that perhaps our Reo was dying. We all know that the power behind indigenous peoples is our Reo. It is the basis of where we come from. It is our heart.

Then, following on from the kōhanga reo movement, was the first kura kaupapa Māori, at Hoani Waititi Marae. It was interesting that our former Minister Dr Pita Sharples was the one who set that up, and from then many kura have blossomed. By 1987 Te Reo Māori had become an official language of New Zealand, and then, 3 years after that, we had the very first Māori radio station, which was established in Pōneke here, called Te Upoko o Te Ika. That was run by Piripi Walker and Tama Te Huki.

I am saying all these things because I think that in order for us to go forward and in order for New Zealand to go forward in acknowledging Te Reo Māori and participating in our language, we have to know where we have come from. We have to know where we have come from before we know where we are going to. In 1989 we saw the emergence of Te Māngai Pāho through the Broadcasting Act, and in 2004 Māori Television went to air.

💬 Carmel Sepuloni: All these good things under Labour. Kia ora, Labour.

They are good things. It does not matter who did them—they are good things. In 2006 a survey of the health of Te Reo Māori was conducted, and we realised that more needed to be done. We might have moved from the 9 percent, but we had not moved far enough. By 2013, 19 percent of New Zealanders spoke Te Reo Māori, so it is no wonder that action is needed today, and action needs to be taken fairly quickly to be able to reverse that percentage.

My speech is a short speech. It has focused on the past and on my personal perspective. There is a lot of progress that has been made and there is a lot more to go. This bill repeals the Māori Language Act and also repeals Part 4 of the Broadcasting Act. Importantly, it establishes the entity Te Mātāwai, which has had a lot of discussion out amongst iwi in terms of how it is going to move forward. But the bill also gives to iwi and Māori organisations a pivotal role in shaping the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori in this country, and it is right that iwi and Māori should be at the centre of this and not the Government.

I believe that it is not how fluent one is in Te Reo Māori but how often we speak it, whether it is in total immersion or intermittently with English, because as confidence grows, the more you speak it—and that is exactly my story. In closing, I commend the bill to the House. I strongly encourage all people of Aotearoa, where possible, to have a go. We should be speaking it, singing it, praying it, and playing it because that is the only way. We can have every bill this side of the black stump, but unless we actually do it, we will get nowhere and it will go. I know that from this bill and forward, it will happen. E Te Mana Whakawā, ka mutu tāku kōrero. Kia ora.

[My address ends, Mr Deputy Speaker, and thank you.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Māngai, huri noa i Te Whare, tēnā koutou katoa. Tuatahi, rawe te whakarongo atu, rawe te kite atu i a mātou ngā kaitōrangapū ahakoa te pātī, e kōrero ana i tēnei Whare, e aroha ana i tō tātou nei Reo. Kikī ana te ngākau me te aroha mai ō tātou katoa o tēnei Whare Pāremata, me tō tātou aroha mō tō tātou Reo Māori ahakoa nō wai, ahakoa nō hea. Nō reira, tuatahi e Te Māngai, pirangi au ki te kōrero e pā ana ki tēnei. Āna te hōnore nui māku ki te tū ki roto i tēnei Whare, tautoko ai i tō tātou Reo Rangatira.

Ka pōti whakaae ana Te Rōpū Kākāriki i Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori, ahakoa ki a mātou he mea paku raru tonu ki roto i te pire; ka pōti whakaae ana mātou. [Interruption] Āe, āe. Ka haere tonu te kōrero me te mahi ki te whakakaha i te pire nei, ki te pupuri ki ngā moemoeā mō Te Reo. He rā whakahirahira tēnei mō tātou Te Iwi Māori, mō Te Reo hoki, nō reira, ahakoa taku wiriwiri, taku werawera kua maringihia, ka tū au ki te kōrero i roto i Te Reo mō te katoa o tōku kōrero mō tēnei pō, hei māngai mō te Ropū Kakāriki i roto i tēnei, te pānuitanga tuarua o te pire nei. Kia ora.

Mārama te kite atu i te wero Reo kei mua i a tātou katoa. Te maha hoki o ngā tāngata pēnei ki a au, ngā tāngata ihu hūpē tonu ki ngā take Reo Māori. Kāore ano mātou kia tino whiwhi. He wero tāku, tā mātou ki te patu i tērā whakamā. Nō reira, tēnā hoki koutou katoa ngā tohunga Reo mō te awhi mai. Ko tērā te tino kaupapa o Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori nei. He pire tēnei ki te tautoko i ngā wawata o tātou Te Māori.

E tika ana ka mau Te Kāwanatanga ki ētahi o te mahi whakakaha i Te Reo i te mea, nā Te Karauna te hē tuatahi. Heoi, he tika hoki te whakahirahiratanga o tātou Te Iwi Māori e ārahi ana i tēnei mahi. Me noho rangapū ana Te Karauna ki Te Iwi Māori hei whakamana i tō tātou Reo me Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Hoki aku mahara ki ngā kōrero nō tōku kuia. Nō Te Rarawa ia. Ko Patricia Broughton, née Hansey, tōna ingoa. Nā te patu o Te Kura Māori, arā, ngā native schools, tōna whakamā ki te kōrero i Te Reo ki āna tamariki. Pēnā tērā ki a mātou, nē? Nā rātou ngā kura, tōna mana i tūkino, nā ngā ture kino i takahi tō tātou Reo Rangatira, nō reira, kua ngaro Te Reo i aku mātua, i tērā whakatupuranga katoa. Āna, e tika ana mā Te Karauna e tautoko te whakatikatika.

Ki a mātou nei, he mea pū raruraru i roto i te pire ēngari, he maha hoki ngā whakarerekē anō i te pānuitanga tuatahi kua whakakaha i te pire. He pai te kākune o te pire nei kia whakatika ai i ngā mana whakahaere o ngā rautaki whakaora i Te Reo me te whakawhiti i ētahi o ngā mana whakahaere ki a ngāi Māori me ngā hapori. [Interruption] Āe.

I muri i te panuitanga tuatahi, i whakatūria Te Rōpū Tohutohu Reo Māori e Te Minita. Tēnā koe, e Te Minita. Kua kōwhiri ētahi tohunga Reo o Te Motu mō tērā rōpū, arā, a Ahorangi Rāwinia Higgins, rātou ko Tākuta Ruakere Hond, ko Tākuta Wharehuia Milroy, ko Charisma Rangihuna, ko Charlie Te Pana hoki. E whai kupu ana rātou i ētahi rerekētanga nuinga kia whakakaha ai i te pire. E whakaae ana mātou Te Komiti Whiriwhiri Take Māori, no reira, i uru atu ērā rerekētanga ki roto i te pire, tēnā hoki rātou.

Ko tētahi o ngā tino rerekētanga, ka whakatū te pire i ngā rautaki Reo Māori e rua, ko Te Maihi Karauna me Te Maihi Māori. Ko te hiahia o Te Maihi Karauna, kia noho haepapa ai mō Te Karauna me te whakahāngai i tōna arotahi ki ngā take ā-motu. Ā, ko te hiahia o Te Maihi Māori, ka noho nei te haepapa ki Te Mātāwai mō te taha ki te iwi, mō ngāi Māori ki te whakahāngai i tōna arotahi ki runga i ngā take iwi, take hāpori hoki. Ki a mātou nei, he pai hoki kia noho tonu a Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori me Te Māngai Pāho hei rōpū motuhake o Te Karauna. He tino pai ēnei āhuatanga e rua ki ahau, kia whakatūturu ai me kore Te Kāwanatanga e whakataka ana i a rātou takohanga ki Te Reo hei taonga o te whenua. He take Te Tiriti o Waitangi tērā.

Ko tētahi o ngā tūraruraru i roto tonu i te pire, ko te mahi ngātahi o Te Mātāwai ki ngā whānau, ngā hapū me ngā iwi pīpī. Nō reira, me arotake tātou i ngā piki me ngā heke o Te Mātāwai e pā ana ki tēnei āhuatanga. Ko ētahi atu mea, ko te putea moni mō Te Mātāwai, me te mahi kōwhiri i ngā mema mō Te Mātāwai. Me arotake tātou i ērā mea hoki. Ko tōku nei hiahia, kia mahi ngātahi ai ngā mema o tēnei Whare ā ngā pānuitanga kei te haere mai, kia whakakaha anō te pire, pērā i te tuhi i tētahi rārangi arotake.

Kāre tēnei pire i te tino whakataunga mō te whakaoratanga o tō tātou Reo Māori—e mōhio ana tātou katoa i tērā, āe. Ka mate, ka ora Te Reo i roto i te kāinga, arā, ngā whānau me ngā hapori o Te Motu. E tika ana te kōrero a tā Royal Tangaere, ko te kāinga te ūkaipō o Te Reo, āe, ko te kāinga te ūkaipō o Te Reo. Nō reira, me tino tautoko tātou i ngā mahi hapori, me whakaako ngā kura katoa i Te Reo, ki ō rātou tauira, āe. Ēngari, ko te tino painga o tēnei pire, ka whakatū i te anga whakatakoto i te ara, kia whai ai i ēnei mea whakahirahira. Nō reira, ahakoa ngā āwangawanga e pā ana ki ētahi āhuatanga o te pire nei, kua kōrerohia e au, ā, e ētahi hoa mahi hoki, ka tautoko tā mātou o Te Rōpū Kākāriki mō te pānuitanga tuarua nei. [Interruption] Kia ora. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, huri noa i Te Whare, tēnā tātou katoa. Kia ora.

[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you all throughout the House. In the first instance, it is great to listen and to hear us politicians, regardless of party, speaking in this House with passion about our language. The heart is filled with benevolence from all of us in this House of Parliament for our passion for our Māori language, regardless of who it belongs to or where it comes from. So the first thing for me is that I want to speak about this. It is a huge honour for me to stand in this House and endorse our esteemed language.

The Green Party votes in favour of the Māori Language Bill. Even though there is still a minor flaw in the bill, we will vote in favour. [Interruption] Yes, yes indeed. Discussions and work to strengthen this bill will continue to hold on to the dreams about the language. This is a wonderful day for us in Māoridom and for the Māori language as well, therefore despite my nervousness and the perspiration oozing out of me, I stand to deliver my entire address this afternoon in the Māori language as spokesperson for the Green Party in this, the second reading of the bill. Greetings.

The challenge before us all in terms of the language is clear to see. There are a significant number of people also who are like me, and really inexperienced when it comes to Māori language matters. We have not fully grasped it yet. My challenge, our challenge, is to overcome that embarrassment. Therefore, I also commend all the language exponents for embracing us. That is, after all, the real purpose of this Māori Language Bill: to support our Māori aspirations.

It is appropriate that the Government has a role in strengthening the language, because it was the Crown’s fault in the first place. Accordingly, it is apt as well that we as Māori have a prominent role in guiding this work. The Crown must work in partnership with Māoridom to give effect to our language and the Treaty of Waitangi.

My thoughts go back to the conversations of my grandmother. She was from Te Rarawa. Patricia Broughton, née Hansey, was her name. Her embarrassment to speak Māori to her children was the outcome of corporal punishment at State native schools. That is what happened to us, did it not? Schools violated her dignity—they did. Harmful laws walked all over our esteemed language and, as a consequence, my parents and all that generation lost the language. Accordingly, it is only appropriate that the Crown support any restorative action.

To us, specifically, precisely this is a problematic area in the bill but there have also been many changes since the first reading to strengthen it. The intention of this bill is to amend formal responsibilities in regard to revitalisation strategies for the language, and transferring some of those to Māoridom and communities is meritorious. [Interruption] Yes, indeed.

Following the first reading, the Minister for Māori Development established an independent Māori Language Advisory Group. Thank you, Minister. Language experts Professor Rāwinia Higgins, Dr Ruakere Hond, Dr Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangipunga, and Charlie Te Pana make up that group. They made some crucial changes to strengthen the bill. We, the Māori Affairs Committee, concurred and those modifications were inserted into the bill, and for this I acknowledge the contribution of that advisory group as well. One of the significant changes made to the bill was the establishment of two Māori language strategies, one for the Crown, and one for Māoridom: Te Maihi Karauna—Crown strategy—and Te Maihi Māori—Māori strategy. The intention of the Crown strategy is for the Crown to have responsibility for, and focus on, national-level issues. The intention of the strategy for Māori is for the Te Mātāwai entity to have responsibility on behalf of Māori and to focus on issues at both tribal and community levels. We consider the retention of the Māori Language Commission and Te Māngai Pāho as being a good one. These two entities in my view are very good in that they ensure the Government will not deviate from its responsibilities in regard to the language being a treasure, a possession. That is a Treaty of Waitangi matter.

A problematic area in the bill relates to Te Mātāwai working in unison with families, subtribes, and smaller tribes. Therefore we must review the ups and downs that Te Mātāwai might experience in regard to this. Other concerning matters include Te Mātāwai funding and membership selection. We need to review those things as well. My desire is that members of this House work in unison on future readings to strengthen the bill, such as writing up a review agenda.

We are well aware that this bill will not be the panacea for all Māori language restoration—yes, we know that for sure. The language lives or dies in the home: in other words, within families and communities of the nation. Royal Tangaere is right in saying that the real source of sustenance of the language is the home. Indeed, the home is where the language is nurtured. So we must support what communities are doing; all schools must teach Te Reo Māori to their students—yes. But the real plus for this bill is that it establishes an infrastructure which sets down a pathway to these inspirational things. Therefore, notwithstanding the concerns relating to some aspects of this bill that I and some of my colleagues have alluded to, we the Green Party support this second reading. [Interruption] Good luck. Therefore, greetings and acknowledgments to each of you and to all of us throughout the House. Thank you.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Kaiwhakawā Matua o Te Whare, tēnā tātou ngā mema e noho nei i runga ake i te putanga mai o ngā kōrero e pā ana ki tēnei pire. Ā, ki te korero: “Tiwha, tiwha i te pō, ka rararau i te pō. I a au i te pō tangotango ka haratautia, takawiri ngā papa o Māui, ka puta te here tangata ki te whei ao, ki te ao mārama; ā, tihei wā mauri ora!” E tika ana kia mihi hoki ki tēnā o ngā mate maha kei waenganui i a tātou, o ngā hunga i ngaro atu ki te tirohanga kanohi i tērā atu wiki, tae noa ki te rā nei, nā, i whakahuangia ngā ingoa, ko Ranginui Walker tēnā, ko Tāhuna Minhinnick tēnā, ā, me Roger Aranui. Nā reira, e tika ana kia mihi kau ki a rātou, e ngaro atu ki te tirohanga kanohi.

Ahakoa ko rātou tata ake nei i hinga atu ēngari ka hoki ngā mahara ki tēnā o ngā tino kaikawe o te kaupapa nei kia kite mai te rere o tā tātou nei Reo Rangatira i runga i te motu nei. Nā, ka hoki atu ngā whakaaro ki tēnā a Te Aniwaniwa (Hone) Rangihau, me te tupuna a Tā Hēmi Hēnare, tae atu ki tana tamaiti, toku matua a Ērima, a waihotia ngā kōrero ki a ia ēngari, me te whaea a Heikōkō Mataira me ētahi atu, mai i Te Rōpū ā Sid Jackson mā, i kawe atu tēnei kaupapa kia whai i te tautoko o Te Karauna kia whakamana i tō tātou Reo Rangatira, ā, e rere nei. Nā reira e tika ana kia mihi kau ana ki ā rātou. Ka hoki mai ki a tātou i te rā nei, nā reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou.

E tū ake tēnei mō Te Rōpū Aotearoa Tuatahi, ahakoa i runga ake i te wā e noho tonu Te Komiti whakawhiriwhiri o ngā Take Māori, ahakoa kāre kau kē i puta mai tō mātou whakahē ēngari, i muri mai i tō mātou hui i nanahi, ka kī mai tō mātou rōpū ki a au: “E Pita, haere ki roto i Te Whare kia whakahēngia ēngari, ka whakahēngia tēnei wāhanga.” Kia mahara i a tātou, i muri mai i tēnei wāhanga ko te wāhanga tuatoru, nā reira, ko wēnā te wāhanga te mea nui, mēnā e whakahē, kia ahatia?

Ēngari, ko tetahi o ngā mea e āwangawanga i ā mātou, e aha ana te take kia waihotia ki ngā iwi katoa o te motu kia tohutohu mai ko wai ngā tokowhitu e kawe atu i te kaupapa mō Te Mātāwai? Ahakoa kei a rātou Te Reo ēngari, he aha te take kia tukuna atu ki a rātou kia tohetohe kei waenganui i a rātou? Ko wēnā tētahi o ngā kaupapa kāore mātou i whakaae. Ko te mea tuarua, i te wā tuatahi i puta mai te pire, ē, ko te kaupapa kia whakakāhore Te Rōpū Te Taura Whiri. Ahakoa i roto i tēnei pire kei te tū hoki te mana o Te Taura Whiri, nā reira ka mihi hoki ki a koe, Te Minita. Ēngari, tā mātou āwangawanga, te āhua nei kua tangohia te nuinga o ngā pūtea mai Te Taura Whiri kia tukuna atu ki Te Mātāwai. Ki a au nei, ki a mātou hoki o Aotearoa Tuatahi, e tika ana kia whai pūtea hou mō Te Rōpū Te Mātāwai, kaua e tangohia ngā pūtea a Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo. Koina te tino take i whakahē nei i a mātou i tēnei wā!

[Interruption] Kia aha tia? Kia aha tia? Ēngari kia mōhio mai koe e Te Minita, i te wā e noho ana koe ki tērā taha, kei a koe te mana! Ēngari, ā te tau e tū mai, ā, ka whakawhiti mai koe ki tēnei taha, ki a au nei te mana. Kia aha tia? He kōrero noa iho tēnā! Ēngari i te mutunga o te rā, ahakoa te nuinga o ngā kōrero i roto i te pire nei ēngari, koinā te take kāre mātou o Aotearoa i whakaae i tēnei wā.

Kei te tautoko ngā whakaaro e pā ana ki te rua o ngā mahi: ko tētahi kia riro ki Te Karauna kia whakahaerengia, tētahi anō kia riro ki te ao Māori ēngari tā mātou tino maharahara, me pēhea ngā iwi Māori e tohu ko wai tā rātou kaikōrero? Ahakoa ā te wiki e tū mai nei kei te tū te hui i roto i Te Tai Tokerau kia whai kōrero, e aha ana te kaupapa kia rapu tā rātou tangata, wahine rānei hei kaikōrero i runga i te kaupapa o Te Mātāwai. [Interruption] Āe, tika ana, tika ana tēnā! Ēngari, mena e mōhio ana koe te āhuatanga i a mātou o te hau kāinga, kia pau kē ngā hoariri ki waho, ka huri ngā pū kei roto. Nā reira, ko wēnā te take i kōrero mai i a mātou i roto i a Aotearoa Tuatahi, ēhara i a mātou e hiahia ana kia kite atu i tō tātou iwi e haere pēnā ana. [Interruption] Āe, tēnā pea, tēnā pea! Ēngari i roto i te pire nei, ā, koina te āhuatanga.

Ēngari, kei te mihi hoki ki Te Minita mō te kaupapa, kia whakauru mai tēnei pire ki roto i Te Reo Māori. Ā, tino hari ana au mō tēnā. Tua atu i tēnā, nā Te Reo Māori tana mana kei runga i Te Reo Pākehā, nā reira kei te tautoko i tēnā! Ēngari, kia aha tia? Kia ahatia? E mihi hoki ki a tātou ngā mema o Te Komiti whakawhiriwhiri Māori me tēnei tāke, ahakoa ētahi atu kāore i a mātou katoa i tautoko, ēngari i te mutunga o te rā, ka puta mai te āhuatanga o tātou Te Māori. Ahakoa ngā piki me ngā heke e pā ana ki ngā mahi tōrangapū i te mutunga o te rā, he Māori tātou. [Interruption] Kāo, kāo, ko au te kaikōrero i tēnei wā. Koinā te mea pai, te maha o mātou ngā mema o Aotearoa, ngā mema o Aotearoa Tuatahi ki a kōrua o Te Pāti Māori. Kia ahatia? Ēngari, ahakoa i tautokona e au nei te āhuatanga o tēnei pire ēngari te tū o Aotearoa Tuatahi, kai te whakahē ki tēnei wāhanga mō tēnei wā, nā reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou kia ora mai anō tātou.

[Greetings to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and to us members seated here in regard to the speeches emerging on this bill. And so to the saying: “The conspicuous night, the auspicious night that settles down, the intense dark night from whence I emerge as Māui braces, twists, writhes, and trembles, and behold, the strands of humanity emerge into the natural and enlightened world; it is the breath of life.” It is appropriate, indeed, to acknowledge those many deaths in our midst and lost from sight last week to this day. Names like Ranginui Walker, Tāhuna Minhinnick, and Roger Aranui were mentioned today; it is timely, therefore, that a tribute is accorded to those, the recently departed, who are no longer seen.

But we reflect on those earlier ones who advocated that our chiefly language be heard and spoken throughout the nation: those such as Te Aniwaniwa (Hone) Rangihau; elder Sir Hēmi Hēnare, including his son and my uncle, Ērima; tributes to him I put to one side as I pay tribute to Heikōkō Mataira, the matriarch, and others from Sid Jackson’s group. All of those people picked up this matter and relentlessly lobbied the Crown to officially recognise our chiefly language that flourishes today. So it is fitting that we recognise them. I come back to us today to acknowledge, commend, and applaud you collectively.

I rise on behalf of New Zealand First. Despite the fact that we did not oppose anything during the Māori Affairs Committee debate, following our caucus meeting yesterday I was told: “Pita, go into the House and oppose it, but only this part.” We must not forget that after this reading, the third one will follow, so that is the vital one. Therefore, what must be done to avoid it being opposed? What?

One thing that concerns us is why leave it to all the tribes throughout the country to say who the seven should be to carry out the functions of the Te Mātāwai entity? Even though they have the ability to speak Māori, why leave it to them to debate and argue the issue among themselves? That is one matter that we oppose. The second one refers to the first time the bill was introduced and, in particular, the proposal that the Māori Language Commission be disestablished. However, we note in this bill that the status of the Māori Language Commission has been restored and confirmed, so we acknowledge you for that, the Minister for Māori Development. But our concern is that it seems that most of the funding for the Māori Language Commission has been taken and transferred to Te Mātāwai. To me and to us of New Zealand First, the new entity Te Mātāwai should be funded as of right, and not have funding taken from the Māori Language Commission. That is the reason why we oppose it at this point in time.

[Interruption] So what can you do about it? What exactly? But you must understand, Minister, at this moment you are sitting on that side and have the mandate. But next year you might cross over to this side, and the mandate will be with me. So what will be done about it? However, that is just pure postulation. At the end of the day and despite the majority of what is in this bill, that is the reason why we of New Zealand First oppose it at this time.

We do, however, support the idea of having a dual strategic approach: one for the Crown to be responsible for and the other by Māoridom, but our main criticism is about how Māori tribes are to appoint a representative for them. Despite the fact that there is a consultation meeting next week in Northland for tribes, what is the selection criteria when choosing a male or female representative to meet the requirements of Te Mātāwai? [Interruption] Yes, indeed, quite true. But if you understand our situation back home—until all the opponents have been ejected from within, then the guns will be turned inwards. That is the issue we discussed amongst ourselves in New Zealand First; we do not want our people going down that track. [Interruption] Yes, I agree; I totally agree with that. But that seems to be the situation in this bill.

However, I acknowledge the Minister with regard to the Māori language being included in this bill. I am really pleased about that, and, furthermore, that the Māori version has precedence over the English. I really endorse that. But so what? What indeed? I also applaud us members of the Māori Affairs Committee in regard to this matter, despite the fact that we were not unanimous. At the end of the day, we resolved this as our Māori side came to the fore; despite the political ups and downs, at the end of the day we are Māori. [Interruption] Not all, not at all. I am the representative at this point in time. The great thing is that there are many of us in the New Zealand First Party, as opposed to you two in the Māori Party. So what about that? Even though I support what this bill is about, the New Zealand First Party opposes this part at this point in time. And so I acknowledge and commend you collectively, and thank us all once again.]

Kia ora, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Kei hea taku reo karanga ki ōku tipuna?

Hoki mai hoki mai e taku reo rangatira.

Ko wai rā hei arahia tātou e

Ngā kohikohinga, ngā uri o te motu e?

Ā, tēnā koutou. Harerūia, harerūia! Kua tae te pire ki Te Whare. Tēnei rangi whakahirahira, kua tae tēnei pire ki mua i te aroaro o tēnei whare, Te Whare Mīere. He rangi whakahirahira tēnei. He aha ai? Ā, i roto i te hītori o tēnei whenua, kāre anō kua tū tētahi pire pēnei, mā Te Reo Māori te mana, Te Reo Māori whaimana kei roto i te pire, kei roto i te ture o te whenua, nā reira, harerūia, harerūia, nāku e mihi kau atu ki tēnei pire, ki tēnei rangi.

Anō nā ka tāpirihia ngā mihi ki a rātou kua mene atu ki te pō, te hunga wairua. I tēnei wiki, ko Roger Aranui tēnā, i tērā wiki ko Ranginui Walker tēnā. E hika! Maha kē atu ngā kaumātua ngā mate kei runga i a tātou i tēnei tau. E tika ka mihi ki a rātou. Engari, ka huri anō ki a tātou te hunga ora, ko tātou te hunga tūtuki i ō rātou nei wawata; nā reira, tēnā tātou, tēnā tātou, kia ora mai tātou Te Whare.

Ngā kupu kei roto i taua waiata e whakararu nei i ahau, engari nā Whirimako taua waiata. E whakanuia te āhuatanga ō tō tātou reo. Kei roto i te ngākau o te tangata. Koia nei te reo, te wairua o tēnei reo i tēnei pire. Nā reira, kei te tū whakahīhī au ki te whakaaetia ki tēnei pire; tēnei rangi kua whaimana tō tātou reo.

Tuatahi, me huri ano ngā whakaaro ki ngā tau kua pahure ake. I aua tau rā, ae, kei te hinga haere tō tāua reo i runga i te whenua. I patupatu haere Te Reo Māori, te reo tauiwi, me ngā kōrero taupatupatu i runga i te whenua. Heoi anō rā, he maha kē atu ngā take e tautokohia tēnei pire. I roto i tō tātou kōti, ko ngā tiāti tēnā i ngā tau kei te heke mai. Mehemea he raru ki tā te pire nei, ko rātou tēnā me whakawā me pēhea te huarahi whakatikahia engari ko Te Reo Māori te reo whakahaere i ō rātou na whakaaro. Nā reira, kei te tautoko ai i te kōrero o tērā o ngā tuahine a Māmari Stevens, ki tā te reo tauiwi i kī nei: “Māori has been reduced to a language of describing Western law,”.

[Where is my language that calls to my ancestors?

Return to me my chiefly language.

Who will guide us,

The assembled, the descendants of this land?

Greetings to each and every one. Hallelujah; rejoice! The bill is before Parliament. It is indeed an auspicious day, the presentation of this bill to the House. Why is today so auspicious? This is an historic occasion for our nation with the first bill of its kind where the status of the Māori language is enhanced, and the Māori language is officially incorporated into the bill and the legislative process. Hallelujah, hallelujah; I commend this bill here today.

I also join in acknowledging the recently departed, and indeed all those gone before us. I would like to make special mention of Roger Aranui, who passed away this week, and also Ranginui Walker, who passed away last week. Alas, too many elders and loved ones have left us this year alone. It is only appropriate we acknowledge them, and in so doing we also acknowledge the living—we the living are now left behind to continue the legacy and fulfil the aspirations of those before us; therefore to each and every one, greetings and warm wishes throughout the House.

The words in that song tripped me up while singing them, due mainly to the fact that it was composed by Whirimako. It celebrates the phenomenon of our language; that is, the heart of the person. This indeed is the voice, the spirit of this language in this bill. So I stand proud to authorise this bill; our language has a right to be validated.

First of all, we must cast our minds back to the years that have gone by. In those times, yes, our language was slipping back across the land, and the English language continued to overcome the Māori language, plus it was being called into question and being debated across the nation. Be that as it may, there are many, many other reasons for this bill being endorsed. In our courts, according to this, if there is an issue in terms of this bill, the judges will make a ruling, and they will do this in the Māori language. So I endorse the statement by the sister Māmari Stevens, who said in English: “Māori has been reduced to a language of describing Western law,”.]

She goes on to say, not only Western law—we have been reduced to commenting on it, protesting on it, and we express suffering under it. But this bill takes a significant step forward, so that in our lifetime—rather than Te Reo Māori really being a language of making law within our general legal system, it shows that it has the capacity to be a fully functional legal language in the legal system of our country. Nō reira e, te tuahine Māmari, mena kai te whakarongo koe, kei te tautoko pai nei au i tō kōrero, he rangi whakahirahira tēnei mō Te Reo Māori i roto i te ture.

Ā, ka huri anō ki tērā o ngā tangata rongonui, a Tā Pita Sharples. Ko ia tēnā i te 2014, i whakatau i tēnei pire ki runga i Te Whare, kai mua i te aroaro o tātou. Ā koia tēnā i hiahia kia whakahokia tō tāua Reo ki roto i te ringa o te mana whenua, ki roto i te ringa o Te Iwi. Nā reira, e tika me mihi atu ki a ia me te wairua o taua whakaaro. Ēngari, kāre tēnei pire i te utu mō ngā take katoa o te ao, ēngari he tīmatanga. Tika rā te kōrero a Nanaia e kī nei, he tīmatanga tēnei, hei whakatikahia te whatu, te wepu o tō tāua Reo i roto i ngā kura, nā Te Karauna tēnā i whakarite i ō rātou pire, native schools i te tau 1867. Ko taku whaea tētahi, kua wepuatia nei e tōna kaiako i a ia e kōrero Māori ki ngā hoa i roto i tana kura.

Nā reira, ka huri ano ki tēnei wā, tēnei wā kai te mihi atu ki ngā iwi e hiahia nei te whakahouhia tō tātou reo: ā, ko Ngāti Raukawa tēnā, Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūhoe, Ngāi Tahu, ā, i tēnei wiki kua pahore ake nei, ko Tainui anō tētahi whakarite nei i tō rātou rautaki Reo Māori. Nā reira, e tika me mihi atu ki a rātou. Ā, kai te hiahia rātou kia tō mai Te Reo ki roto i te ngākau o te tamaiti, te mokopuna o te motu. Ā, ko Ngāti Raukawa tēnā atu i ō rātou ake uri, ka purua Te Reo, ka whakatō Te Reo ki roto i te ngākau o te tini me te mano e tae atu ki Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Nā reira, kai te mihi, kai te mihi atu ki a rātou.

Ā, ētahi e taupatupatu nei i te ao tōrangapū nei mō te pire. Māku e kī atu ki a rātau, ā, kua tau ki Te Whare waiho te ao tōrangapū ki te ao tōrangapū, ēngari anō kia hoki atu ki Ngāti Hine, ki Ngāpuhi, ki ngā iwi—[Interruption]—kia ora—o te motu. Hai aha te whakatōrangapū i te kōrero i waenganui i a rātou, kia rapua tētahi Māngai mō Te Reo kia uru atu ki Te Mātāwai. Ā, koirā te kōrero o Ruakere i ngā rangi kua pahore ake nei i te hui whakanui i Te Ātārangi i te wikene nei. Toru tekau tau rātou i whakahoutia tō tātou Reo ki roto i Te Wairoa, ā, Te Ātārangi tēnā, Te Kōhanga Reo tēnā, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori tēnā e tautoko pai nei i tō tātou Reo, hoi anō me mihi, me mihi ki a rātou.

Ā, kai roto i te pire, kai te pīrangi au ki te mihi atu ki te rōpū whakahou nei i tō tāua Reo, nā te whakaaro nui o Te Minita nei me tōna kaha, me tōna whakaaro nui, ā, me tōna tirohanga whakamua, i hoki anō ki te mana o ēnei e whakapau kaha ki te whakatikatika i tēnei pire. Ā, ko Te Reo Tukutuku tētahi o ngā wāhanga e rārangi nei i ngā rōpū Māori, hai rapu i ētahi māngai mō Te Mātāwai, tautoko i ngā mahi o Te Iwi. Ā, kai roto i Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora ka kite mātau i te tirohanga whakamua.

Nā reira, kai te pīrangi au ki te mihi atu ki ērā kua whakapau kaha. I ngā tau kua pahore ake, i tae mai ki Te Pāremata nei me tā rātau petihana a Tamatoa, a Koro Dewes, Cathy Dewes, Hannah Te Hēmara, Rāwiri Paratene, Lee Smith, Sid Jackson, Joe Te Rito me Rāwiri Rangitauira, e tika me mihi atu ki a rātou. I tēnei wā, ka hoki anō tō tāua Reo ki roto i te ringa o te rōpū o Te Minita nei, a Rāwinia Higgins tēnā, ka mihi ki Ruakere Hond, Te Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangiponga, Charlie Tepana i whakapau kaha ki te tutuki i ngā hiahia o tātau katoa, kia whakahouhia tō tātau Reo.

Nā, ko taku kōrero whakamutunga nei, mai i tērā o ngā koroua a Te Wharehuia: “The Māori language is seriously threatened, and at danger of being lost. When I say that a language becomes endangered, I am actually referring to when the speakers’ conditions around them have altered. … Whānau, hapū and iwi play a critical role in ensuring that young ones are exposed and engaged regularly with the language so that it is relevant and a living language. But this cannot be done in isolation. We also need to have some material and moral support from the Crown in order for some of these things to take place. This forms the basis of the proposed Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora” ki roto i tana pūrongo, ā, ko taku mihi whakamutunga ki roto i ngā kupu o Te Kooti: “Āe, e hoa mā, ka pai tō koutou whare, oti anō te raruraru, e titiro ake nei ahau kai te whawhai tētahi o ngā pakitara ki tētahi o ngā pakitara, te whatitoka ki te tuarongo, te teina ki te tuakana, te tamaiti ki te matua, ā, titiro ake hoki ahau ki ngā kai o te whare nei, he kōhatu, he kirikiri, he tātaramoa ēngari, te one matua!” Nā reira, tēnā koutou, tenā koutou! Tautokohia nei tēnei rangi, harerūia, harerūia, ngā mihi.

[If you are listening, sister Māmari, I truly endorse your statement. This is a great day for the Māori language in law.

I turn now to one of those prominent people, to Sir Pita Sharples, who placed this bill before the House in 2014. It was his specific desire that our language be returned into the hands of mandated tribes and Māoridom. As a consequence, it is apt that he and the spirit of that gesture be acknowledged. But this bill is not the solution for all worldly matters; it is but a beginning. The statement by Nanaia is right; she said this is the start to addressing the harm and hidings incurred in schools since the Crown introduced the Native Schools Act 1867. My mother received corporal punishment from her teacher for speaking in Māori to her friends at school.

So I come back to the present. I acknowledge the tribes today wanting to revitalise our language: Ngāti Raukawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūhoe, Ngāi Tahu, and Tainui, who have just considered their Māori language strategy in the week just past. It is only appropriate that I acknowledge them. Their desire is to draw out the language from within the heart of the child and grandchild of the nation. Ngāti Raukawa is an example of one who does that with their own kin in terms of revitalising and drawing out the language. They do that with the vast numbers that attend Te Wānanga o Raukawa. And so I commend and acknowledge them.

In regard to some engaged in any political dissension over this bill, I say to them that the bill has landed in Parliament, so leave those political dissensions to be addressed there. But I do want to go back to Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, and the tribes—[Interruption] thank you—of the country. Do not politicise the discussions amongst you when seeking a representative on Te Mātāwai. That is what Ruakere said in the past days at a weekend conference to celebrate Te Ātaarangi. They have been revitalising their Māori language for 30 years in Te Wairoa, and Te Ātaarangi, Kōhanga Reo, and Māori-medium schools in the area have supported our language. I cannot thank them enough.

In regard to the bill, I want to acknowledge the language advisory group brought together through the foresight, tenacity, and vision of the Minister here. He went back to the integrity of these ones in this group who were working hard on modifications to this bill. Te Reo Tukutuku was a cluster going through Māori organisations to seek out representatives for Te Mātāwai who are to support the work of Māoridom. We saw the vision going forward in the House of Te Reo Mauriora framework.

I would also like to acknowledge those who worked hard over the years and arrived finally at Parliament with their Tamatoa: Koro Dewes, Cathy Dewes, Hannah Te Hēmara, Rāwiri Paratene, Lee Smith, Sid Jackson, Joe Te Rito, and Rāwiri Rangitauira. It is apt that they be acknowledged. At this point, our language is in the hands of this Minister’s advisory group: Rāwinia Higgins, Ruakere Hond, Te Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangiponga, and Charlie Tepana, who worked tirelessly to meet all our aspirations to revitalise our language.

My concluding statement comes from that one of our esteemed elders, Te Wharehuia: “The Māori language is seriously threatened, and at danger of being lost. When I say that a language becomes endangered, I am actually referring to when the speakers’ conditions around them have altered. … Whānau, hapū and iwi play a critical role in ensuring that young ones are exposed and engaged regularly with the language so that it is relevant and a living language. But this cannot be done in isolation. We also need to have some material and moral support from the Crown in order for some of these things to take place. This forms the basis of the proposed Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora” in his report. My absolute final comment is contained in Te Kooti’s words: “Yes, friends, what a beautiful house you have, but the only problem as I look up at it is that one wall is fighting against another wall, the door is fighting the back wall, the junior is fighting the senior sibling, and the child the parent. And so I look at what is inside and see stones, sand, brambles, and, primarily, earth.” Therefore greetings, acknowledgments, and salutations. I endorse this day; hallelujah, glory, and glad tidings.]

A 5-minute call on behalf of the Green Party—Denise Roche.

Kia tau te rangimārie o Te Rangi ki runga i tēnei a Papatuānuku e takoto nei me te taiao e awhi nei i runga i a tātou; tīhei mauri ora! E Te Māngai o Te Whare, tēnā koe, huri noa ki a koutou katoa i Te Whare, tēnā koutou. He hōnore nui mōku ki te kōrero i te pānuitanga tuarua o Te Pire Reo Māori mō ngā Kākāriki, tēnā koutou katoa.

[May the peace of the Sky Father alight upon Mother Earth lying here, and upon the environment that embraces us; behold the breath of life. I acknowledge you, Mr Deputy Speaker; and to you all throughout the House, greetings. It is a great honour for me to speak in the second reading of the Māori Language Bill on behalf of the Greens; my appreciation to you all.]

It is an honour, indeed, to speak on this, the second reading of the bill. It was my honour to speak for the Greens in the first reading, but the lead on that has now been taken by our Māori affairs spokesperson, Marama Davidson.

We initially voted against the bill, and our objections, to some extent, have been addressed through the select committee process, but I want to just go through what they were because they have been raised by others in this House. They were concerns about the limited scope of the consultation before the bill was introduced—and there were particular concerns from hapū up north—concerns about loss of the independent Crown entity status for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Māngai Pāho, and concerns about methods of funding and how it is not tied to need or based on what the research suggests, but based on negotiation. We were very concerned about that.

The reason, though, that we are changing our position and will be voting for the bill in the second reading is that there has been a more robust consultation that the Minister for Māori Development has undertaken, it is being led by experts in the field, and there is more willingness on the behalf of the Minister to work with the community, and that has also been the result of the Māori Affairs Committee pressuring for that. We are now aware that there will be two revitalisation strategies, one led by the Government and the other led by Te Mātāwai on behalf of Māori. This is, of course, in addition to the work that iwi katoa are already doing. Te Taura Whiri and Te Māngai Pāho will no longer lose independent Crown entity status and will remain autonomous, and that was of major concern. These changes help ensure that the Crown does not abdicate its responsibilities to protect Te Reo as a taonga.

Te Mātāwai’s representation has also been changed slightly to include one extra Te Reo Tukutuku member to represent urban Māori, and this was a direct result of the select committee submissions that came from that group. We do remain concerned about the sidelining of some hapū and iwi voices due to Te Mātāwai’s iwi representation consisting of only one member from each of the seven geographical areas, but we know that what they have come up with so far does sort of reflect the different dialects.

This is the second dual language bill in modern politics. Te Reo Māori and English texts will hold equal status, and if there is an issue, then it is the Te Reo version that will take precedence. And we all know what happens when you get stuck with translations—it happened in 1840. The revitalisation of the language is essential to improve the health and well-being and the standing and the mana of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the strategies are crucial to this.

I want to acknowledge, like others before me, the passing of the many kaumātua who have gone beyond the veil. I am particularly thinking about Dr Ranginui Walker, whose tangihanga I was at on Friday. I took my daughter to that, and the reason I took her to that was not only to honour this wonderful man and his amazing achievements but also so she could hear her Reo around her. My daughter is the only student in year 13 at her high school learning Te Reo Māori—the only senior student.

💬 Hon Te Ururoa Flavell: Which school?

At Waiheke High School. She has 1 hour of face-to-face contact per week.

I also want to acknowledge that Metiria Turei spoke for the second time in Te Reo in public in a speech, and I was so proud of her. She said the words “Too many of us have grown up, and still live in, the crack—the crack between Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pāhekā. It is hard and it is confusing, never quite being anything enough in a racist society”, and she thanked Dr Ranginui Walker for giving Māori the language to speak truth to power.

I want to finish with a whakataukī: “Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku māpihi maurea.” Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[“My language is my awakening; my language is the object of my affection.” Greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you all.]

A 5-minute call on behalf of the Labour Party.

Tēnā koe, Mr Deputy Speaker, ā, tēnā koutou ngā mema o Te Whare Pāremata. E tū taukoto ana ahau i tēnei pire mō Te Reo Māori, kia whakahouhia ake te kaupapa mō Te Reo Māori. “Āpiti hono, tātai hono, rātou te hunga mate ki a rātou, āpiti hono, tātai hono, tātou te hunga ora ki a tātou”, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ā, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you, members of the House of Parliament. I stand in support of this Māori language and the renewal of the policy relating to the Māori language. “The lines are joined, they the dead to the dead, and we the living to ourselves.”, so greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you collectively, and to us all.]

I am delighted to be able to speak in support of this very landmark piece of legislation that is having its second reading right now. We have heard in the House tonight “E Te Māngai” [Mr Speaker] and I have heard “harerūia, harerūia” [hallelujah, hallelujah], and I thought I was in a whakamoemiti Rātana Church service. But certainly it is worth celebrating thus far that we have come to this point to have the second reading of this bill.

It has had a long passage. There has been a lot of work that has gone into getting it to this stage. I have only got a short call, but I do want to acknowledge the Minister and the ministerial advisory group, the members of the Māori Affairs Committee, and in particular my whanaunga from the lofty southern mountain Aoraki there, Tūtehounuku Karako, who led our committee. I was on the committee but only intermittently, so I was able to sit in and hear certain aspects as this bill progressed, but I know the good work that was put in by the committee as well to ensure the passage of this bill.

Can I also acknowledge the specialist translators who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to give a full Te Reo Māori translation to this bill. It is of extra significance, as has been mentioned, that this is a dual language piece of legislation. If there ever is any raru or doubt or conflict between what translation will prevail, Te Reo Māori will prevail. That is very significant. It is only the second piece of legislation in the history of Aotearoa Niu Tīreni that we have had a Te Reo Māori piece of legislation. I support this bill because I support our Reo Māori.

Sure, there are aspects that were of concern when we did the first reading, and I could go into the details but, ultimately, I think, a big issue was around the nexus between the Crown’s relationship—it is the Crown’s obligation to protect our taonga and to promote the Crown’s obligations versus empowering te iwi Māori to champion and to foster and to grow our Reo Māori me ōna tikanga [Māori language and its conventions].

So I think that the changes that have been made have improved and clarified that relationship. We have got certain new bodies and strategies that have been set up. I think, ultimately, this legislation, like any new creation, takes time to bed in. I think we will ultimately see the hua—the fruits—of this legislation by giving it time. We need to give it time. We need to let Te Mātāwai assemble, the old guard and the new, for all of them to come together to do their important mahi. We need to let the Crown strategies and all of the aspects of its role, and who will be doing that—we need all of that to be teased out. But, ultimately, we do support this bill, and it lays a very good foundation for the next chapter of the fostering of our Reo Māori.

Ultimately, that is what it is all about. We want this legislation to really be a huge boost to the amount of Māori that is spoken among Māori whānau and right across our whole country. So I do tautoko this piece of legislation, I do acknowledge all of the work that has gone into it before, and I am looking forward to progressing it through the further stages that we have left in the House. I commend it to the House. Kia ora tātou.

E Te Mana Whakawā, tēnā koe, e ngā mema o Te Pāremata, ka mihi ki a koutou, e te iwi noa, e Te Whare nei, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you, to members of Parliament, to the tribes in general, to this House, and to us all.]

You will have to forgive the accent. I am not on the Māori Affairs Committee, but it gives me great pleasure to speak on behalf of the Government in regard to the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill and to acknowledge our coalition partners who have done such fine work, especially the Minister for Māori Development, in making this bill happen. Over many years the Māori Party has delivered for the Māori communities of our country and for our wider community as well, and I think that is shown through the practical things that have come through in legislation like this today—I am getting a photo! I would like to congratulate and thank all members of this House. I think that the way everybody has spoken has been a credit to this Parliament and to the traditions of this House.

As a European, I never learnt Māori. In the 1970s and 1980s we were never taught it at school, and I think that is a great disservice to our people of all backgrounds. We do not feel as comfortable as we should in the Māori communities because we do not know the language. We should know the language a lot more. Every New Zealander, Māori or European or Asian or Pasifika, should know more Māori than they do know. That is something that this Parliament should do something about, because our generation missed out. Hopefully, future generations do not have that problem and they will actually grow up in a community where they can actually partake in it as full members of the community, understanding the language, because language is so vital to any community.

The stories of the past, I think, are tragic and should never have happened. That shows ignorance and misunderstanding, and I am sure all members of this House are very sorry for anything that has happened to the language in the past.

But I want to take a step forward, looking forward to the language in, say, 100 years’ time. If you look in this House in 100 years’ time it will not be the same people in here necessarily representing the same demographics. You will have a much bigger population from an Asian base. You will have a much bigger population of mixed European and Māori heritage who maybe do not have the opportunity, or have not had the opportunity, to learn the language that they should have. I think we need to look at the Māori language in the future, because in 100 years’ time we will look back at the Māori language as one of the defining parts of being a New Zealander. If we do not have that in all aspects of our society, then we will be a lot poorer as a country and will lose the language—in essence, preventing it being what it should be, which is a treasure for all people, not just a treasure for Māoridom.

I think this bill is a great step in that process. I wish all the best to those who will be involved in making the language a reality. It is something that is important not only for Māori but also for all parts of our community to make sure the Māori language is treasured and also enhanced, so that we have a better understanding going forward. Thank you.

Tēnā koe, e Te Māngai o Te Whare. E tautokongia ana ahau i ngā mihi kua mihia ki a rātou kua whetūrangitia, ngā tini mate o te wiki kua pahore i te mārama. Rātou ki a rātou, te hunga wairua, ko tātou ngā kanohi ora, tātou ki a tātou anō.

Tuatahi, māku e mea atu ki a koe, Mārama, horekau anō ahau kia harirūia i a āe mō tēnei pire i te mea, ka taihoa ake ahau kia kite ai i ngā hua te whakatutukitanga o ngā moemoeā, ngā wawata o tēnei pire, hei mua i taku harerūiatanga o tēnei pire. Mehemea ka kite ahau i te tutukitanga o aua hua, ko ahau te mea ka arataki i a tātou katoa, ka piki ake i ngā puke, ngā hiwi, ngā maunga, kia harerūia i a ia! Nā reira, taihoa ake rā mō taua wā i te mea i nāianei, he kupu noa iho kei roto i wēnei pepa o tēnei pire, he kupu noa iho!

[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I endorse the tributes accorded to those who have been immortalised as a star; the many of the week in the month just past. Let the dead remain there with themselves, the dead; and we, the living, among ourselves as well.

Firstly, I say to you, Mārama, that I will not sing a hallelujah for this bill yet, because I want to wait and see if the outcomes fulfil the aspirations and dreams of this bill before I rejoice in it. If those outcomes are achieved, then I will lead us all and climb the knolls, hills, and mountains and hallelujah it. Therefore, let us wait up a bit for that moment, because this bill is just mere words on paper—nothing but words.]

I just said that I will wait until I sing hallelujah in regard to this bill—the reason being that, at the moment, these are just words in a bill. But when the dreams and aspirations that are inside this bill are actually realised, I will be the first person to lead anybody up the nearest hill, the nearest mountain, and sing hallelujah.

This bill is very important. Labour will support it. We did have reservations, but we will support it. The reason I will support it is that I love Te Reo Māori. I grew up in a monolingual house. We spoke only English. David Bennett said that he did not learn Te Reo Māori at school—he did not have those opportunities. Imagine what it is for a Māori child to grow up and not have those opportunities to speak Te Reo Māori—to go on to your marae and know absolutely nothing about what is going on on that marae, feeling totally inadequate, and seeing your father feeling totally inadequate as well. Imagine the shame that we felt. That is one of the reasons why, when I hit the third form, I took Te Reo Māori. I was lucky to have a fantastic teacher by the name of Charles Berryman, who started me on the path. For some reason, his method of teaching clicked with me. Going from somebody who at the age of 13 was entering high school and barely able to say kia ora to getting only one Bursary subject and that was Māori, 5 years later, is a testament to the fact that it can happen—that we can go from being monolingual to bilingual.

We do want to see Te Reo Māori thrive and prosper. Te Reo Māori is as unique to New Zealand as the kiwi, as Tāne Māhuta, as Prince Tui Teka, and as green pāua. We want to see this taonga of ours grow and thrive.

I came late to the Māori Affairs Committee. I was brought on to it right at the very end of the deliberations on this bill. The first thing I noticed was that there was not an apology. I believe that is something we need to change in the Committee stage. There needs to be an apology for the fact that our aunties, uncles, and grandparents were caned and beaten for speaking Te Reo Māori. I have to say that my father, to my knowledge, was never caned for speaking Te Reo Māori because he just could not speak it. It was especially tragic because both of his parents were fluent Māori speakers. In fact, I am told that my grandmother’s Māori was better than her English, and yet their five sons, my father being the youngest—not one of them could throw a sentence together in Te Reo Māori.

Another criticism I had, coming into the select committee, was the purpose of the bill. I looked at it and I thought: “The purpose of this bill must be that we are going to increase the number of Te Reo Māori speakers and increase their fluency. That must be front and centre.”, and it was not. The purpose of this bill was mainly, may I say, administrative. It was about structures like Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Māngai Pāho—all those Government structures. I thought, yes, when the Minister for Māori Development goes to review this bill in 3 years’ time he can tick things off—“Yep, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori has had whatever happened to it.”—and everything else. But, really, I want to know: are there more Māori speakers in New Zealand, and has their fluency increased? That is what I want to know.

The other thing I want to know is whether Māori is being spoken in more contexts throughout New Zealand communities than it is now. At the moment Te Reo Māori is spoken mainly on the marae and on ceremonial occasions. We are lucky up north that we get a number of people who still speak Māori in the street, and it is beautiful to hear. But non-Māori speakers take for granted the fact that they can walk into any shop, any supermarket, any dairy, or any post office and they can conduct their business in the English language. They take it for granted. But has anyone ever thought that, as a Māori speaker, I cannot walk into Pak ’N Save, the Caltex station, or the post office and conduct my business in Te Reo Māori?

I believe that that is a Treaty right, and until we hear our language spoken everywhere, in all contexts, our Treaty right is not being lived up to. We cannot legislate for Pak ’N Save to go and employ somebody on the counter so that, if I choose to, I can go up and do my transaction in Te Reo Māori. But, certainly, the Maihi Karauna strategy or the Maihi Māori strategy could work with businesses and encourage them to have Māori speakers. We need to not just to be able to speak our language; we need to be able to hear our language, we need to be able to see our language, we need to be able to read our language, and we need to be able to write our language. We need to have our communities immersed in the language if we are actually going to make a difference to Te Reo Māori.

Up until now we have relied on traditional methods of language transfer: the marae, talking to our kaumātua and kuia, and school, I guess. Just while I remember, Denise Roche’s daughter is the only student studying Māori in her class. Will this bill change that? That is something we really, really have to ask ourselves. We need to be able to read, write, and see our language all around our communities. We cannot rely on the traditional methods of language transfer any more. We actually have to look at non-traditional methods, and it is going to seem really strange. It is going to feel really awkward at times. On my marae the time we mainly hear Te Reo Māori is when we welcome manuhiri on to our marae. We are going to have to look at things such as holding a Trivial Pursuit night in Te Reo Māori, where we conjure up these contexts where we can have a lot of fun and games, speaking in Te Reo Māori. We need to hope that every newspaper, maybe once a week, has all the news stories on one page dedicated to Te Reo Māori, and magazines such as Woman’s Day, Woman’s Weekly, the Listener, or whatever—just one page a week. These are the things that we need to see and we need to ask for in order for our language to actually just become normal again. Let us remember that the word “Māori” actually means normal.

💬 Louisa Wall: Ordinary.

Ordinary. So we just need to make our language ordinary and normal. Actually, we should be careful about making it tapu, because then it scares people. It should just be so natural and normal that we do not blink when we hear it or when we see it.

We support this bill. We believe it can be improved, but, at the end of the day, if it lives up to the promise that is in it, then, as David Bennett said, this country is going to benefit. It is just going to be the greatest thing for all of New Zealand and all New Zealanders. So we support it. We want to improve it. We want to make it live up to all the potential that is in it, so that it is not just a bill, words on a sheet of paper; it is actually the future, here, for Te Reo Māori. Kia ora.

Tēnā koe, e Te Mana Whakawā, ā, huri noa i Te Whare nei, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to us all throughout this House.]

I just purposefully asked my colleague to step aside for a second because I just came down to the House to find somebody, realised that this was the conversation that was going on, and wanted to participate. I think this is a vitally important bill for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Reo Māori has been in the back seat for too long, being ignored by many people—and, I guess, too many people—for such a long time.

My journey with Te Reo Māori started when I was at intermediate school. It did not start at primary school, because no one ever spoke it, but at Hiona Intermediate School in Masterton I was one of the two skinny white boys who were a part of what was known as the Māori Club, because that is what it was called back in 1978. We learnt a few tunes and a few dances and a few whatevers, and it was kind of a fun thing to be a part of.

But, actually, as I grew older, I realised that this language was an important thing, so I disciplined myself along the way by practising looking at road signs as I went past, and practising and teaching myself with the “AEIOU”, wondering how this word would be pronounced in order for me to be able to at least pronounce Te Reo Māori as well as I possibly could—because I felt that was the least that I could do. Then when I was doing my social work degree I had the opportunity to study Te Reo Māori for 1 year. The frustrating thing about that is that I do not remember everything I learnt, and so there are a lot of things to go back and relearn.

A couple of years ago my wife came home one day and said: “You know what? I think I’d like to learn some Te Reo Māori.” She said this to my daughter, who had been going out with someone who is now her husband. She had been going out with him for about a month or so. My wife said “You know, I’m thinking of learning Te Reo Māori.”, and my daughter turned around and said to her “Well, you’d better, Mum, because your mokos are going to speak it.”, which was a little bit frightening. But it is OK. She married him, and I have no doubt that my mokos—my grandchildren—will grow up to be bilingual because that is important to their father and, actually, it is going to be important to their mother and it is going to be important to me. Not that there is any hurry, if you are listening, guys! They have been married for only a year. But it is going to be important, and suddenly this language is going to be a part of our family. So I think it is beholden on many of us to be able to do that.

I guess what I want to say is that this bill is really important. It is really important for what is contained in it, but it is really important for the message that it sends to everybody in Aotearoa New Zealand: that Te Reo Māori is an important part of who we are as a nation. It is a treasure for us to make sure that we continue with, going forward.

I want to acknowledge the Minister for Māori Development for the great work that he has done with this bill, and I want to acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee for bringing it to this House. This is an important thing. It is an important thing for all of Aotearoa New Zealand, and I consider it a great privilege to be a part of this Parliament in bringing it forward. I look forward to seeing it progress through further stages in the House.