Today in History

1987 Maori becomes official language

The Maori Language Act came into force, making te reo Maori an official language of New Zealand. It could now be used in some legal proceedings. The Act also established Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori – the Maori Language Commission.

At the beginning of the 19th century the Maori language (te reo Maori) was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As more English speakers arrived in New Zealand, the Maori language was increasingly confined to Maori communities. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives launched from the 1980s have brought about a revival of te reo. In the early 21st century, more than 130,000 people of Maori ethnicity could speak and understand te reo, one of the two official languages of New Zealand.

In 1985 the Waitangi Tribunal heard the Te Reo Maori claim. This asserted that te reo was a taonga (treasure) that the Crown or government was obliged to protect under the Treaty of Waitangi. The Waitangi Tribunal found in favour of the claimants and recommended a number of legislative and policy remedies. One of these was the Maori Language Act, which saw Maori made an official language of New Zealand.

The Act established Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori - the Maori Language Commission - to promote the use of Maori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication.

Image: Maori language class, 1981