Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Te reo quantity affecting quality - academic

Updated at 12:03 am on 4 December 2012

A language researcher at Auckland University says the quality of the Maori language being spoken maybe suffering as its popularity increases.

Joe Te Rito, who is also a member of Te Reo Maori Society, says it's important the standard of the language is the same as spoken by ancestors.

He says while it's good that more people are speaking Maori, the quality leaves something to be desired.

Dr Te Rito says if mistakes become prolific they get picked up and become the norm, putting correct pronunciation and grammar at risk.

However, Dr Te Rito says the increase in Maori speakers is a good thing and can be credited to kohanga reo, kura kaupapa and wananga.

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