Celebrating IY2019 in Aotearoa

New Zealand or Aotearoa set up Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori otherwise known as the Māori Language Commission under the Māori Language Act 1987 and continued under Te Ture Reo Māori 2016 / Māori Language Act 2016 to promote the use of Māori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication in Aotearoa.

The Māori Language Commission is an autonomous Crown entity responsible to Parliament for the use of public funds to support the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori. The Commission is responsible for:  

• a key role in leading coordination of the crown Māori Language Strategy implementation;
• promotion of te reo Māori to wider New Zealand;
• language planning support and evaluation;
• carrying out and commissioning research;
• examination and registration of translators and interpreters; testing levels of proficiency
• language development ensuring Māori language can be used effectively in all circumstances
• reporting to the Minister for Māori Development on matters relating to the Māori language.

IY2019 is a great opportunity for the Commission to contribute its current work to the cause. This year a programme of key events and promotions are being planned that compliment both IY2019 and meet our obligations to our government. We would like to have use of the IY2019 logo and branding for the purpose of these events/promotions. The programme is still in development but we do know it will include a profile of IY2019 on our website, youth language summits, a pacific languages summit, social marketing research into creating behavioural change to increase uptake of Maori in youth, a National Maori Language Awards, Regional and National Speech competitions, and Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori (a National week of celebration of Maori language) – to mention a few.