Families take on debt to revitalize Māori language
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In New Zealand, Māori families are making significant financial sacrifices to learn te reo Māori, the Māori language.
Some are taking out loans and enduring difficult living conditions, like sleeping in cars, to attend full-immersion language courses. Angie Stretch of Te Wānanga o Raukawa notes that financial hardship doesn’t deter everyone, but some families take drastic measures like selling homes to afford a year of study, contributing to rising rental costs in towns like Ōtaki.
The issue of access to language learning isn’t new. Broadcaster Stacey Morrison recalls concerns in 2008 that participants in a language program were primarily from middle-class backgrounds. Morrison and her husband have since focused on supporting families to integrate te reo into their homes, recognizing the many demands on their time and resources. Several learning pathways exist, including free night classes and week-long immersion courses that cost around $200-300 plus travel.
However, year-long immersive programs like Takiura in Auckland can cost $3,500, even with subsidies. Some argue the government should fully fund te reo learning for Māori, given its historical suppression of the language. Despite financial challenges, areas with larger Māori populations, like Gisborne, tend to have higher rates of te reo fluency, suggesting community support plays a vital role.
