It’s Maori Language Week and Maori MPs seemed keen to avoid speaking in English.
PoO’s check on Parliamentary procedures showed that
Māori language in the House of Representatives has been an enduring element of New Zealand democracy since the first four Māori MPs were elected in 1868. At that time, Te Arawa chief, Pōkiha Taranui questioned the point of “our chiefs being sent into the Pākehā parliament if they can’t understand the language of the Pākehā.”
They were provided with sequential interpretation of English into Te Reo Māori and, as required, Te Reo Māori into English.
But Parliament’s simultaneous translation service was not introduced until 2010. Since then, whenever a member speaks in Te Reo Māori, simultaneous interpretation into English is provided.
Members listen via earpieces provided at their seats.
The spur for Te Reo Māori was a ruling by Sir Douglas Kidd that,” when a member speaks in Māori that member does so as of right.” (1997, Vol. 562. p. 3192. Kidd),
But listeners to radio broadcasts don’t get the benefit of the translations.
Thus the PoO team had to wait for the Hansard record to find what Potaka had said:
Māori language in the House of Representatives has been an enduring element of New Zealand democracy since the first four Māori MPs were elected in 1868. At that time, Te Arawa chief, Pōkiha Taranui questioned the point of “our chiefs being sent into the Pākehā parliament if they can’t understand the language of the Pākehā.”
They were provided with sequential interpretation of English into Te Reo Māori and, as required, Te Reo Māori into English.
But Parliament’s simultaneous translation service was not introduced until 2010. Since then, whenever a member speaks in Te Reo Māori, simultaneous interpretation into English is provided.
Members listen via earpieces provided at their seats.
The spur for Te Reo Māori was a ruling by Sir Douglas Kidd that,” when a member speaks in Māori that member does so as of right.” (1997, Vol. 562. p. 3192. Kidd),
But listeners to radio broadcasts don’t get the benefit of the translations.
Thus the PoO team had to wait for the Hansard record to find what Potaka had said:
Question No. 5—Māori Development
5. HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te Pāti Māori—Hauraki-Waikato) to the Minister for Māori Development: Tēnā rā koe, e te Pīka. E whakapono ana ia ki ngā mahi a te Kāwanatanga kia whakapūmautia te reo Māori?
[Does he stand by the Government’s track record on upholding obligations to te reo Māori?]
Hon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for Māori Development): Āna.
[Yes.]
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke: E whakaae ana te Minita ki ngā kōrero a te Kaikōmihana mō te reo Māori e mea ana, “e raru ana te reo Māori i ngā kawenga me ngā mahi a tēnei Kāwanatanga”?
[Does the Minister agree with the statements of the Māori Language Commissioner that states, “the Māori language is endangered by the conduct and activities of this Government”?]
Hon TAMA POTAKA: He mihi kāmehameha nā te ngākau iti rawa ki te kaikōmihana, ki te toihau o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, me te mōhio hoki ka nui āna kīanga kōrero ahakoa ko wai te Minita, ahakoa ko wai te Kāwanatanga.
[Significant acknowledgments of my humble self to the commissioner, the toihau of the Māori Language Commission, and I am also aware that she has made many statements regardless of who the Minister is, regardless of who is in Government.]
This doesn’t tell us if Potaka agrees – or disagrees
We have been left to suppose he might be saying obliquely that the commissioner is always whining no matter which government is in power.
Maybe not.
But he palpably (and pathetically) failed to champion the coalition team for whom he is supposed to be playing by rebutting the commissioner’s politically provocative claim that the Government is endangering the Maori language.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
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