Celebrating Maori culture’s champions
Professor Rawinia Higgins helped shape the Maori Language Act 2016, and has been recognised with a Matariki Award nomination.
After a successful inaugural year, the awards – convened to celebrate and honour Maori talent and achievement across a broad range of fields and industries – are back for 2017.
Higgins, deputy vice-chancellor (Maori) at Wellington’s Victoria University, is a Te Waiti Award finalist for Te Reo and Tikanga.
This award recognises people who are championing the revitalisation of the Maori language and culture, and increasing awareness and status of Te Reo in New Zealand.
Higgins chaired the Maori Language Advisory Group for the Minister for Maori Development, which shaped Te Ture mo Te Reo Maori 2016 (the Maori Language Act 2016) and the establishment of Te Matawai, an organisation to lead revitalisation of Te Reo on behalf of iwi and Maori.
Her research has been focused around language planning and policy, and she says her findings influenced her work on the legislation.
‘‘We can talk about language values: so intrinsically I know it’s part of my heritage, I love the language.
‘‘But that doesn’t always equate to using the language on an everyday basis. What is it that shifts people into wanting to use the language - more than just loving it for its cultural heritage or spiritual connection or intrinsic connection?’’
Some speakers are hindered by proficiency and therefore feel fear or shame of not being proficient enough, which stops them speaking the language, she says.
‘‘We focus more on the acquisition of language – like compolsory language in schools – and think that’s kind of a silver bullet.
‘‘But there’s more to language revitalisation than just that one area – it requires a lot of other things as well.’’
Higgins says Maori culture and Te Reo provide the country with a unique identity.
‘‘It really is hard to avoid Te Reo Maori in this country, and the sooner we embrace that, the better it might be for the language.
She is ‘‘humbled’’ by her award nomination, alongside professor William Te Rangiua (Pou) Temara and Mahuru Maori movement pioneer Paraone Gloyne.
‘‘I see it as a recognition of collective impact.’’
Awards that celebrate Maori achievement are important and can inspire younger generations, she says.
‘‘Often, we are bombarded with a lot of sad stories or bad stories about Maori, and we don’t often take the time to celebrate the success.
‘‘And there’s a lot of success that happens from the community level right through to even at a global level.’’
The Matariki Awards take place in Auckland on July 21.