Principals support compulsory te reo

"It's not going to help our children in their futures." Sally Addis

A call to make learning te reo Maori compulsory at primary schools is being welcomed by Manawatu principals but they fear there wouldn’t be enough teachers.

Green Party Maori development spokeswoman Marama Davidson said te reo should be taught to all children, to ensure the survival of the language.

However, teaching te reo well requires teachers who have themselves had good teaching and a solid foundation in the language, teachers say.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Manawatu tumuaki (principal) Denise Marshall welcomed the idea for mainstream schools to pick up te reo Maori, but said kura already struggled to get enough fluent teachers.

She had noticed growing appreciation for te reo in the community, so was hopeful the time might be right.

Monrad Intermediate principal John Forsyth was enthusiastic about introducing more comprehensive te reo learning.

The school is strong on Maori content, has an award-winning kapa haka team, and a bilingual unit.

‘‘Why don’t we learn our own language first? It’s not difficult; we teach French and German.

‘‘I think if we were all able to speak te reo we’d have a much better understanding of the culture, and it would make us much better New Zealanders.’’

Reaction on the street was mixed.

‘‘I’m not in favour of it because it’s not going to do anything,’’ Wairarapa resident Sally Addis said.

‘‘It’s not going to help our children in their futures. It’s a waste of taxpayer’s money – I think it should stay as it is.’’

Palmerston North resident Shayse Scott, 18, said learning te reo should be a choice.

‘‘Math and English should be focused on as we need that for all our jobs.’’

Holly Phoenix, 17, from Palmerston North, said te reo was important.

‘‘It’s one of our languages, as well as sign language. It’s the language that started in New Zealand – it’s still a good thing to learn.’’

Palmerston North resident Javier Madine, 33, said she could see both sides of the argument.

‘‘It’s good that our children get to choose but at the same time we don’t want the language to die out.’’

Whakarongo School principal Jaco Broodryk is proud to speak both Afrikaans and English, and said each opened different opportunities and connections.

‘‘I’m a strong supporter of learning more than one language. It actually develops our thinking and understanding.’’