Maori school merger will affect language growth

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Maori school merger will affect language growth

3News NZ

By 3 News online staff

A proposal to merge two Maori language schools in Christchurch has led to complaints being lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal.

Te Whanau Tahi and Waitaha claim the Government is threatening their cultural identity by forcing them to merge.

“The difference between the two schools is the whakapapa,” Huata Martindale of Te Whanau Tahi told Firstline this morning.

“Removing that natural right of our people to choose where they send our children, by doing that you’re going to have a major impact on the revitalisation of the Maori language within Christchurch,” he says.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O-Waitaha’s Terina Tahau says her school has students travel from all over Canterbury, and merging the two schools will affect the mana of the students.

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Comments

19/09/2012 7:53:05 a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Maori are still fundamentally tribal. At an education level a merger may make sense, but ar a tribal cultural level there was bound to be opposition. I'm not sure how the Treaty of Waitangi fits but since it is used to justify all Maori grievances it is always in the back pocket and ready to pulled out.

19/09/2012 3:51:11 a.m.

Malcolm wrote:

Roy, I agree. The only trouble is we New Zealanders are too laid back. The time has come to say NO. Not sooner or later, but NOW. These freeloaders and their culture!!! For those who can't live as one people . . . LEAVE!

18/09/2012 11:54:09 a.m.

boom wrote:

Maori have this country wired. They will get what they want you wait and see!! Am waiting for the day they want white people to sit in the back of the bus and drink from seperate drinking fountains because it robs maori of their mana and their culture.

18/09/2012 11:32:29 a.m.

Roy wrote:

I'd like a school which is based on my family history please, in order to maintain my cultural identity. Instead we are force fed Maori, in every subject including maths, and lumped together as Pakeha. Sooner or later we are going to have to say 'No!'.