Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Commission supports Laban on Pacific language policy

Updated at 6:39 am on 1 February 2012

The Maori Language Commission supports a former Labour MP who is calling for Pacific languages to be officially recognised in New Zealand.

Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, an associate professor at Victoria University of Wellington, raised the idea during the ninth annual Waitangi Rua Rautau lecture in Wellington.

Discussing, among other things, the Treaty of Waitangi from a Pacific perspective, and Pasifika peoples' affiliation to Maori she suggested it was perhaps time for the development of a Pacific language policy to protect, maintain and rejuvenate those languages in Aotearoa.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (Maori Language Commission) chief executive Glenis Philip-Barbara congratulates Ms Laban and has offered support if needed.

She says the commission has 25 years experience in language revitalisation.

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