Talking the talk
Some politicians are making an effort to learn te reo.
Alot of good intentions, a heck of a lot of modesty, but not much te reo. You won’t hear a lot of Māori spoken in Parliament, but a tally of the te reo competency of politicians past and present shows many are trying to brush up their language skills.
Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English was able to begin his speeches on marae by speaking in fluent Māori, without notes, for about five minutes.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern cannot have a conversation in te reo Māori, but is “leaning heavily” on Scotty Morrison’s books to improve her skills. Corrections and Crown/Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis can hold a conversation in te reo, but doesn’t describe himself as fluent. “As a second-language learner, I miss some nuances – that’s a difference between a competent speaker and a native speaker.”
Davis is not alone in his diffidence. Minister Willie Jackson learnt te reo at school and from his father but not, he says, to a level of fluency. As an adult, he made a commitment to develop it further so he could raise his children as Māori speakers and, as a Māori broadcaster, “be a champion of the language”.
Ministers Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare both grew up speaking te reo, but, says Henare, it’s still important to keep learning new words, new idioms.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson learnt the language as an adult. Her grandmother was a native speaker, but “had the language literally beaten out of her”. Today, Davidson can hold a conversation in te reo, but does not consider herself fluent. “I consider myself a beginner. I always cringe listening back to my reo in the media and hearing the mistakes, but I’m also learning and getting better every day.”
Co-leader James Shaw can’t hold a conversation in te reo, but tries to incorporate the language in his speeches and is focusing, he says, on improving his pronunciation.
Winston Peters didn’t wish to comment, but NZ First deputy leader Fletcher Tabuteau says, although he can’t have a conversation in te reo, he can understand “about 60%” of what is spoken by his elders. “I need and want to do a full immersion … It’s who I am, the language is part of who we are.”
National Party leader Simon Bridges declined to comment, but earlier this year told TVNZ he had tried to learn about four or five times and would love to have that skill: “Maybe one day that’ll be something I’ll pick up.” His deputy, Paula Bennett, isn’t learning, and isn’t planning to learn, “but I am happy to see that more people are embracing and learning te reo”.
Act leader David Seymour took up lessons last year, but the election campaign “wiped them out”. As part of his background is Ngāpuhi, he says, “it would be nice to speak a language of some of my ancestors”.