23 Mar 2012

Final day for evidence for urgent kohanga hearing

7:15 am on 23 March 2012

The Crown is expected to present its final evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal hearing an urgent claim brought by the kohanga movement, which wants to become self managed.

A two week long inquiry, which ends on Friday, has been held in Wellington.

Evidence was presented last week by the Kohanga Reo National Trust Board, and this week it has been the Crown's turn.

The inquiry has covered numerous matters, including the relationship between the trust and the Government, what the Crown knows about the movement, as well as funding and regulation criteria.

Over the week, Crown witnesses have included employees with the Ministry of Education.

They've been cross examined about what they know about kohanga, if its policies are formulated with kohanga in mind, as well as how it communicates with the movement.

Te Puni Kokiri - The Ministry of Maori Development has also been questioned about what active steps it takes to advance te reo through kohanga reo.