Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill

The chairperson of the Māori Affairs Committee is inviting submissions on this bill.

The aim of this Bill is to repeal the Māori Language Act 1987 and amend the Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Māori) Act 2003 and other Acts to:

• affirm that the Māori language is a taonga of iwi and Māori, and that iwi and Māori are the kaitiaki of the Māori language; and

• establish an independent entity, Te Mātāwai, to provide leadership on behalf of iwi and Māori regarding the health of the Māori language; and

• provide for iwi and Māori language stakeholder organisations to appoint 10 members to Te Mātāwai, and for the Crown to appoint 2 members; and

• transfer responsibility and oversight for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) and Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency) from the Crown to Te Mātāwai; and

• disestablish Te Pūtahi Paoho and transfer its functions to Te Mātāwai.

A copy of the bill can be purchased at any Bennetts Government Bookshop or viewed online at www.legislation.govt.nz

Submissions should be forwarded by the due date, either online using our website (www.parliament.nz) or in writing to the address below. If a submitter wishes to appear before the committee, they need to state this clearly and provide a name, daytime phone number and email address. Submissions generally become public and are published on our website. For further guidance on making a submission, read our publication Making a submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee on our website or contact us at 04 817 9520.

Address for correspondence: Māori Affairs Committee, Parliament Buildings, WELLINGTON 6160.
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