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'The Maori language belongs to everyone' - Shane Jones takes swipe at Bill English over saving te reo

January 24, 2018

He said “Please remind Bill English the Maori language belongs to everyone”.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has taken a swipe at Bill English at Ratana celebrations, saying the Maori language belongs to everyone.

Last week the National Party leader said te reo can only be saved by Maori families willing to speak it.

And yesterday Mr English reiterated his comments, saying the Government couldn't be relied upon to save the language.

Mr Jones today spoke to the gathering at Ratana Pa, in Te Reo Maori and English.

"Please remind Bill English that the Maori language belongs to everyone. It is not just some one else's language. That is the native reo of our motu," Mr Jones said. 

Mr English's comments follow the publishing of a controversial book Killing Te Reo Maori, that claims an over-emphasis on pronunciation is ruining the language.

The author, Professor Paul Moon, says that without practical applications for the language, like the English language commands, te reo is doomed to die.

Professor Moon's comments have been rebuffed by a number of prominent Maori journalists and public servants through #letssharegoodtereostories.

However, Mr English also said he he was optimistic the language would survive.

"The kohanga reo or kura kaupapa movement has brought through a generation of speakers and a lot of that generation are parents now and they're able to have enough Maori spoken in their homes and I think that is the future of the language," he said.

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