14 May 2014

A lick and a promise on Te Reo

6:23 pm on 14 May 2014

The leader of a Far North iwi says the Government's vision for the whole nation to get behind the revitalisation of Te Reo is a lick and a promise.

'Love the language' flags are flying in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Photo: RNZ

Haami Piripi of Te Rarawa is behind the broader plan to return control of the language to the people who speak it, through a new tribal group called Te Matawai.

But he said that work needed to be done in getting everyone involved.

Mr Piripi said it was difficult to see how national buy-in could be achieved if the job was left to the tribal grouping.

He said the strength of the public service infrastructure was needed on initiatives such as rejuvenating Te Reo Maori.

Mr Piripi said that when he was chief executive of the Maori Language Commission, progress could not have been made without state sector observations, advice, and support.