21 Nov 2018
Kōhanga reo problems bigger than funding
The number of children who attend kōhanga reo has dropped by more than 2,500 since the year 2000. They are welcoming government plans announced early this week to design a new funding model with the Kōhanga Reo National Trust. But they told our Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan that the problem is much bigger than just funding. Peggy Luke-Ngaheke has been a strong advocate of the kōhanga movement since it started 36 years ago. She says children leave kōhanga confident in their identity - they understand te reo Māori me ona tikanga, and have two world views.