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Māori, and consequently, Te Puni Kōkiri, have an important part to play in strengthening New Zealand’s national identity. To maximise and recognise the unique contribution that Māori make to strengthened national identity, Māori culture must prosper in all its diversity.
Te Puni Kōkiri claims leadership of policy related to Māori culture, and currently seeks to boost the vitality of Māori culture especially through initiatives in Māori language and broadcasting, and through bringing about a wider understanding within government of the strengths inherent with cultural infrastructure, especially whānau. The historical grievances of Māori, which affect their participation in society, we help remove through our support for the treaty settlements process.
The vision of the government’s Māori Language strategy is one in which the Māori language is being widely spoken by Māori, and with the value of the Māori language being appreciated by new Zealanders at large. The target date for the strategy is 2028, and Te Puni Kōkiri monitors progress towards it. A detailed stock-take of the health of the Māori language was completed by Te Puni Kōkiri during the year. this involved face-to-face interviews with almost 4,000 Māori in their homes, and showed significant advances compared with a corresponding survey in 2001. In partnership with Te ātaarangi, providers of Māori language services, we launched a programme to provide direct support and targeted information to whānau about their language development needs.
Māori television has now shown clearly the potential of broadcasting in strengthening Māori culture and national identity for all new Zealanders. The government supports Māori broadcasting through the Māori Television Service (MTS) and the network of iwi radio stations. During the year the MTS joined the freeview Consortium developing a shared platform for free-to-air digital television. Te Puni Kōkiri developed a Māori Broadcasting and e-media strategy to provide a policy and operational basis for Māori participation in these cutting-edge developments.
The settlement of treaty claims will enhance New Zealand, and several negotiations made good progress during the period. The Ngāti Mutunga Settlement Act and the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Act were both passed during 2006; while an agreement in principle was signed with Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei and mandating and terms of negotiation were agreed with iwi in Te Tau Ihu. To all these Te Puni Kōkiri made substantial contributions, drawing on our cultural expertise. We led the transfer of the Whanganui District Courthouse site to the Pakaitore Trust, which will eventually assist in a comprehensive settlement for the iwi of Whanganui.
