Purpose: A celebration of the culture and language of the 700,000 Māori people living in New Zealand.
Stimulus/Rationale:
As an intercultural City, Auckland celebrates and encourages the use of minority languages.
The Auckland Council’s Māori Language Policy sets principles for how the Council will contribute to the celebration, protection, revitalisation and the integration of Māori language throughout its functions and activities.
Process:
Auckland participates in the Māori Language Week, organising various events and activities across the city. These include bi-lingual story-telling in te reo Māori and English, performances by Māori artists, competitions in the knowledge of Māori words, reading groups for adults, workshops in specific Māori traditions (e.g. flax-weaving) and various after-school Māori traditional activities for children. The Auckland libraries play an important role in organizing and hosting these events.
Staff are supported to learn and use te reo Māori which is one of the three official languages of New Zealand (the other two are English and New Zealand sign language). Te reo and Tikanga (Māori customs and protocol) support is available to elected members and council staff.
Impact:
2022 marked 50 years since the presentation to Parliament of the Māori language petition and the first Māori Language Day. Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council) participates in the celebrations of the Māori language and encourages all Aucklanders to join in.
Key reference documents: Auckland Council’s Maori Language Policy
