“Frustrated is an understatement – kua eke ki te kakī” is the response of the Māori Language Commissioner to recent decisions rejecting the restoration of some Māori place names proposed by Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (New Zealand Geographic Board).

Professor Rawinia Higgins, Chair and Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) and internationally recognised language revitalisation expert, condemns the recent decision to decline some names and accept others.  

Minister for Land Information Chris Penk’s decision to decline applications to correct both Lower Hutt suburb name Petone, to Pito One, and Auckland suburb’s current Takanini to Takaanini were announced this week.

“While the Minister can make the final decision on any proposed new names, I question the advice he was provided to inform his decisions as there does not seem to be any logic to it.

“If the Minister is not going to take on board the recommendations of Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa, then perhaps he would do well to turn to us for expertise on language revitalisation and te reo Māori, ahead of nameless advisors who have influenced his decisions with no logical or linguistic rationale”.

The Commissioner says she has heard a lot of rhetoric and posturing about the inclusion or non-inclusion of te reo, whether it is bilingual signage or general use of te reo in the public sector. However, this government has still not articulated its position on Māori language policy since being in office, which leads to inconsistencies in how the language is treated.

Te Taura Whiri leads the coordination of the Crown’s Māori language strategy (Maihi Karauna). The strategy commits the Crown to supporting the revitalisation of te reo Māori. Actions like this and cutting Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, actively undermine the strategy. Professor Higgins questions the government's intentions.

She acknowledges that while Pito One and Takaanini were declined, the naming of North Island town National Park to Waimarino and Te Tōangaroa in Auckland's CBD were accepted. The restoration of these names is not only significant for the communities of those places, it also contributes to the Maihi Karauna.

“Te reo Māori is a forever language. But now there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the way this Government is treating te reo.

“The experts are being kept out of the room while others feel more qualified to make these types of intergenerational, nation shaping decisions about language, names and history. Just because you’ve been on a plane a few times, doesn't mean you should have a go at flying it”.

In March this year Te Taura Whiri, which is an autonomous Crown entity, submitted a letter in support of restoring the name Pito One. It contained an explanation of the name’s meaning which becomes clear only when the correct letters are used.

Professor Higgins cautions, “If you continue to use Dr. Seuss type made-up-nonsense-names that mean nothing, in any language, such as Petone, you continue to do a disservice to the rich tapestry and stories of our country, its people and the mana of our language”.

Ake ake ake – A Forever Language.