In recent surveys, Māori people have indicated overwhelming support for the revitalisation of the Māori language. The Māori language activities undertaken in a range of fields indicate the large degree of goodwill towards the language that exists in the Māori community and wider society.
However, the Māori language needs more than goodwill and positive attitudes if it is to survive as an ordinary medium of communication. People must choose to speak Māori on a regular basis, as a normal feature of their everyday lives. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori believes iwi and hapū are in a unique position to transform the determination of people for the Māori language into positive results. Long-term planning and action will support this process.
Iwi and hapū are powerful structures in Māori society and provide focal points for Māori leadership and activities. Many important community institutions are directly controlled by iwi and hapū including marae, church groups and land trusts. What's more, many iwi have reclaimed the control of significant communal assets.
Iwi and hapū can be motivating forces in encouraging Māori people to think about the place of the Māori language in their lives, and to increase their use of Māori on an everyday basis. However, this will not happen by accident. It is necessary to plan, and to take action
There is no single planning formula that will work for all iwi and hapū. Each iwi and hapū has a unique heritage and each exists in unique circumstances. Accordingly, iwi and hapū are encouraged to develop their own Māori language plans to reflect their own Māori language heritage and current circumstances.
There are, however, some common steps in developing Māori language plans.
