31 Jul 2012

Southern Maori MP calls for more Maori language schools

7:16 pm on 31 July 2012

Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene says although the top of the South Island now has its first Maori language immersion school, there's still a case for more to be built.

Labour's Rino Tirikatene was among the nearly 300 people who attended the opening of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tuia Te Matangi this month to see a 30 year dream became a reality.

He says the future of the language depends on more tamariki being able to access instruction in the Maori language and to continue their development in it.

Mr Tirikatene says kura kaupapa are very important and there aren't enough.

He says in Te Tau Ihu - which is the prow of the canoe - there are many proud iwi who want to keep their tribal customs and dialects alive, and the kura will be the foundation to carry that kaupapa and nurture Maoridom's future leaders.