This research study canvassed Māori opinion at flax-roots level on the idea that te reo Māori, their language, be shared by all New Zealanders. A wide range of views and various types of data were gathered, and the response to the question of whether Maori could be considered a language for all New Zealanders signalled an affirmative response. However, support was not unanimous and many held reservations about this move.
Outputs
Journal articles
• Final Report: Te Reo, A Language for Māori Alone? An Enquiry into the View of Māori. Research Project: 3604948
• Ngaha, A. B., Starks, D., & Galbraith, S. (2004). Who speaks Maori in New Zealand? The Census Interpretations and Personal Perspectives. New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics, 10(2), 17-38.
• Ngaha, A. B. (2005). Language and Identity in the Māori Community. In J. Holmes, M. Maclagan, P. Kerswill, M. Paviour-Smith Researching language use and language (pp.29-48)
Conference Paper
• Identity – Whakapapa – Pepeha-Te Reo. New Zealand Language and Society Conference, Massey University, Palmerston North, August 2004.
• Who Am If I Cannot Speak My Own Language? – Mena Horekau Te Reo, Ko Wai Ahau? Department of Applied languages and Linguistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, September 29th, 2004.
• Language and Identity in the Māori Community. The 3rd Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, January 13- 16 2005.
• Rangiatea Methodist Girls’ Hostel: The Training of Young Māori Women for Domestic Science and Hygiene – Yet Another Civilising Mission, a Social Experiment or What? Department of Māori Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland, March 2005.
• Language and Identity in the Māori Community, Or, Do I have to Speak Māori to be Māori? Is My Language Who I Am? European Society for Oceania Conference, Marseille, France. July 6-8, 2005.
• A Case Study of Language Maintenance of Te Reo Māori within the Māori Boarding School of the 1960s – Linguistic Survival Strategies. Applied Linguistic Association of Australia (ALAA) Conference, Brisbane, Australia, July, 2006.
• Te Reo = Māori Identity = Well being = Te Reo. Indigenous Indicators of Well-being: Perspectives, Practices, Solutions. Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Conference, Wellington July, 2006.
• Whose research? Engaging in Academic Research in Māori Communities: Compliance versus Tikanga WIPCE 2008 Conference, Melbourne, Australia, December 7 – 11, 2008.