A French Polynesian bid to make Polynesian languages official languages within the French republic has been rejected.
A French Polynesian member of the French National Assembly Moetai Brotherson said his proposed amendment was thrown out by the law commission last month.
While campaigning for the assembly seat, Mr Brotherson promised to work towards official recognition of French Polynesia's languages akin to the way languages are being viewed in countries like New Zealand.
Reports say one objection to the plan was that knowing a non-French local language could be considered a prerequisite to holding a public service position.
Mr Brotherson said it's obvious that France was not ready to have more than one official language.
