Māori Language Petition 1972

Māori Language Petition 1972
Name	Māori Language Petition 1972
Date	1972
Place	Wellington
Organizers	Ngā Tamatoa, Hone Tuwhare, Dame Whina Cooper, Ngarimu Alan Huiroa Blair
Type	Petition
Outcome	Increased recognition of Te Reo Māori; led to Māori Language Act 1987

Māori Language Petition 1972 The 1972 petition advocated recognition of Te Reo Māori and sought measures for its preservation amid shifts affecting Māori affairs and New Zealand cultural policy. It emerged from activism within Ngā Tamatoa, linked to protests such as the 1975 Māori land march and conversations involving figures like Ngāti Porou leaders and scholars associated with Victoria University of Wellington and University of Auckland. The petition catalysed later statutory change including the Māori Language Act 1987 and contributed to initiatives at institutions such as Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Background

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, concerns about the decline of Te Reo Māori were voiced by activists associated with Ngā Tamatoa, iwi such as Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, and cultural leaders including Dame Whina Cooper and poets like Hone Tuwhare. The movement intersected with Māori urbanisation trends in places like Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua, and with national debates involving politicians from New Zealand Labour Party and New Zealand National Party, and commentators in outlets such as Te Ao Hou and the New Zealand Herald. International contexts included indigenous rights discussions reflected in the work of delegations to United Nations forums and parallels with activism from Aboriginal Australians and movements influenced by the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Drafting and Organizers

Drafting was led by members of Ngā Tamatoa together with educators and academics from University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, and community leaders from iwi including Ngāti Porou and Tainui. Prominent signatories and endorsers included writers and activists such as Hone Tuwhare, Dame Whina Cooper, and union-associated figures who liaised with organisations like the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and community groups connected to Te Puni Kōkiri precursors. The text reflected input from language advocates involved with institutions like Te Ataarangi and researchers associated with the Department of Māori Affairs and linguists linked to projects at Massey University and University of Otago.

Petition Delivery and Signatures

The petition was delivered to Parliament in Wellington, gathering signatures across regions including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and from iwi bases such as Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and Ngāti Porou. Collection efforts engaged community organisations, marae networks, and cultural festivals like events held at Te Matatini precursor gatherings, with activists liaising with MPs from the New Zealand Labour Party and crossbenchers from regional electorates. The presentation in Parliament drew attention from media outlets including the New Zealand Listener and broadcasters at Radio New Zealand, amplifying endorsements from poets, academics, and church leaders connected to denominations such as the Ratana Church.

Government and Public Response

Initial responses involved debate within caucuses of the New Zealand Labour Party and the New Zealand National Party, with civil servants in the Department of Māori Affairs and officials at Parliament assessing options. Some MPs referenced precedents in bilingual policies in countries represented at the United Nations General Assembly, while opposition voices drew on conservative platforms and editorial columns in the New Zealand Herald and Dominion Post. The petition influenced ministerial consideration that later produced consultative frameworks leading to statutory initiatives like the Māori Language Act 1987, and prompted educational pilots in schools under boards such as the New Zealand Education Department and regional education boards.

Impact on Language Policy and Education

The petition helped spur pilot programs and policy shifts that preceded establishment of language revitalisation institutions including Kōhanga Reo and tertiary offerings at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and programmes at Victoria University of Wellington and University of Auckland. It contributed to discourse that informed the Māori Language Act 1987 and the appointment of the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), and underpinned curriculum changes implemented through regional education authorities and teacher training at colleges with links to Auckland Teachers College and Wellington Teachers College. The movement intersected with treaty-based claims under the Treaty of Waitangi and with legal developments in cases brought before bodies such as the Waitangi Tribunal.

Legacy and Continuing Influence

The petition’s legacy is evident in institutions and movements including Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and language revitalisation work at universities like University of Otago and Massey University. Its influence persists in contemporary debates involving iwi authorities such as Ngāi Tahu and government agencies like Te Puni Kōkiri, and in cultural events such as Te Matatini and media production by organisations including Māori Television. The 1972 mobilisation remains cited by historians, linguists, and activists across networks spanning marae, academia, and parliamentary advocacy, linking to broader indigenous rights trajectories represented by groups like Ngā Tamatoa and international counterparts such as Aboriginal Australians.

Category:1972 in New Zealand Category:Te Reo Māori