OUR VIEW
By
Robert
Milne
Our Waimarino speech judge seems to be unaware that Maori is now an official language that can be used in New Zealand courts and Parliament. She has commented that she "objects to being spoken to at length in Maori". In that comment she arrogantly dismissed a young boy's proud achievement of being able to speak two languages. An achievement that a massive number of New Zealanders can't claim. Perhaps if she had written "Please don't speak to me for too long in Maori because I am ignorant of your language and can't judge your speech," she would not have drawn such a reaction. At least it would have shown some tolerance, which is what is needed in regard to the revival of the Maori language. Pakehas need to be tolerant of Maoris speaking their own tongue because they have a right to speak Maori. Maoris need to be tolerant of those Pakehas who don't share the current enthusiasm for the language and cannot be obliged to leam Maori. And Pakehas need to get used to the fact that they are going to hear Maori being spoken more often in the future.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIBUL19881213.2.17
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Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 267, 13 December 1988, Page 4
Word count
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196OUR VIEW Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 267, 13 December 1988, Page 4
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