Conclusion Of The United Nations International Year Of Languages

A wide range of activities that have taken place throughout New Zealand as part of the United Nations International Year of Languages 2008 will be marked with a gathering on Monday 23 February at Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori, the Maori Language Commission.

The Year was launched at a language workshop on International Mother Languages Day, 21 February 2008.

Led by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, key partners for the Year have included Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori, Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

"Languages are to be treasured, they are a bridge to the past and to the future. This year New Zealand has joined hundreds of UNESCO partners worldwide to protect and promote languages, particularly endangered and indigenous languages," says UNESCO National Commission chairman, Bryan Gould.

Major achievements in New Zealand include the: statement on Language Policy released by Te Waka Reo; launch of a 100% Maori language television channel; the initial development of a Pacific language strategy; and He Pataka Kupu, the launch of the first monolingual Maori dictionary.

While recent surveys suggest an increase in the health of the Maori language, Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori chairman, Erima Henare recently warned against complacency.

"Although there is a resurgence of te reo Maori, a critical mass of fluent speakers of all ages is needed, as well as the continued support of the wider New Zealand community".

Te Waka Reo is a national language policy network facilitated by the Human Rights Commission as part of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme.

"The right to language is a vital human right, because it goes to the very heart of a person's identity and culture. It is vital for the realisation of people's cultural, civil, political, social and economic rights," says Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres.

These actions are all in keeping with calls from the UNESCO Director General, Koichiro Matsuura for governments to policies to secure the harmonious and fruitful co-existence of the languages of each country. Mr Matsuura also urged governments to note the importance of languages to development, peace and social cohesion.

UNESCO has commended New Zealand for its contribution to the international work on languages, and will be launching a new Atlas of Endangered Languages, which records the status of language internationally and warns that of the 6000 languages spoken internationally, almost 200 have fewer than 10 speakers.

ENDS

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