Use of the Māori language

Speaking Māori in the home

The HML surveys also looked at who speaks Māori to whom, and how often. This is called the interlocutor relationship. That is, how many Māori people speak to parents, spouses, children, and friends in the Māori language, and how regularly compared to English.

The HML surveys sought to identify three categories of household usage:

• whānau settings where no Māori language is used with various interlocutors;
• whānau settings where some Māori language is used with various interlocutors (but is not the prevalent household language, and is used in less than 50% of household communications); and
• whānau settings where the Māori language is used in most (50% or more) or all communications with various interlocutors.

Results of the HML surveys indicate that since 2001 there has been an overall increase in Māori language use within household settings (see Figure 5). Of particular significance in these regions are the increases seen in the amount of Māori language use by adults with their children and with other adults in the home, as follows:

• In 2006, 25% of Māori adults used the Māori language as a significant language of communication with their pre-school children. A further 58% made some use of the Māori language in their interaction with their infants. This is an overall increase of 17 percentage points since 2001.
• In 2006, 33% of Māori adults used the Māori language as a significant language of communication with their secondary school-aged children. A further 40% made some use of the Māori language in their interaction with their secondary school-aged children. This is an overall increase of 21 percentage points since 2001.
• In 2006, 11% of Māori adults used the Māori language as a significant language of communication with other adults in the home. A further 74% made some use of the Māori language in their interaction with other adults in the home. This is an overall increase of 41 percentage points since 2001.

These findings are a positive indication in terms of re-establishing intergenerational transmission. However, these interactions need to increase further before the Māori language can be considered a primary means of communication for Māori whānau. Language planners may be interested in investigating the reasons behind the increases described.

Figure 5 - Māori language use by Māori adults in the home

Source: HML 2001 Survey, HML 2006 Survey.

Speaking Māori in the Community

Outside of the home, there have also been positive shifts with more Māori language being spoken overall in community domains within Te Tairāwhiti/Tākitimu in 2006 than in 2001 (see Figure 6). As in 2001, results of the HML 2006 Survey indicated high levels of Māori language usage in domains where Māori culture and protocols are dominant (such as at marae, or during hui, or religious activities). For example, in 2006:

• 53% of people with Māori language abilities taking part in religious activities spoke Māori half or more of the time.
• 51% of people with Māori language abilities participating in meetings or hui spoke Māori half or more of the time.
• 52% of people with Māori language abilities attending other activities at the marae spoke Māori half or more of the time. some of the time most of the time.

In contrast to the activities above, in 2006 fewer people spoke Māori for half or more of the time while shopping (5%), at sports (9%), while socialising (5%), at work (12%), and while visiting relatives, friends or neighbours (20%). This information suggests that the most use of Māori language in community settings is in cultural practices and on formal occasions. More instances of Māori language use outside of these settings are needed until normalisation of the language is achieved.

Figure 6 - Māori Language Use of Māori Adults by Community Domains

Source: HML 2001 Survey, HML 2006 Survey.

Reading, writing, and listening in Māori

Alongside speaking Māori, many people also draw upon their Māori language listening, writing and reading skills on a regular basis.

Of these language skills, listening is the most frequently used skill, with an estimated 23,600 people listening to the Māori language at least once a month, and of these, 7,200 listened to the Māori language at least every day. This possibly reflects the readily accessible opportunities available to listen to the Māori language on national television and local radio.

An estimated 18,700 people read in Māori regularly, although only 3,600 read in the Māori language daily. Writing is the least used skill, with only around 13,500 people using this skill at least once a month.

Figure 7 - Māori Language Use of Māori Adults by Community Domains

Source: HML 2006 Survey