Revitalizing the Maori Language: A Focus on Educational Reform

By the beginning of the last quarter of the twentieth century, it had become clear that the Maori language, the natural vehicle of Maori culture, was in danger of dying out. From the 1980s onwards, the Government of New Zealand, in collaboration with Maori community leaders, has invested substantial resources in an effort to revitalize the language. As a means of learning from the success of this project, the present study focuses on New Zealand’s language-in-education policy. It presents a descriptive review of historical factors and of educational programs and policies devised in response to the indigenous people’s call to save the Maori language and culture from extinction. Problems with the reform programmes are also addressed, taking into account economic, social, cultural and attitudinal factors prevailing in New Zealand society at the time.