Geoff Parker: Democracy Needs Neutral Ground

Local government exists to serve everyone — and that requires neutral ground.

The debate surrounding Hastings District councillor Steve Gibson’s decision not to attend a strategic planning session held on a marae is not about disrespect or cultural hostility. It is about whether official council business should be conducted in settings that are secular, linguistically accessible, and free from cultural or spiritual expectations, so every elected representative can participate equally and without pressure to conform.

Karl du Fresne: My complaint to the BSA about the use of 'Aotearoa'

On the night of August 1 I was watching Sky Open’s coverage of the Olympic Games. The presenter, Laura McGoldrick, repeatedly referred to New Zealand as Aotearoa. I found this irritating, not least because it was unsubtly making a political point in what was supposed to be a sports programme, but I wasn’t so enraged as to throw something at the TV. We have become accustomed, after all, to media people flaunting their impeccable ideological credentials by the use of Aotearoa, despite the name having no popular mandate. That’s what they’re counting on: that we’ll come to accept it as the norm – or as Jacinda Ardern once put it, that Aotearoa will be adopted “organically”. How convenient to avoid the complication of seeking formal public endorsement. 

A.E. Thompson: Radio New Zealand - Woke but never Broke

There was an interesting article in the Herald on 30 August about Radio New Zealand's nose-diving ratings and audience numbers. Its title in part was "Media Insider: RNZ’s radio ratings drop ‘a cause for soul-searching’ says CEO".

RNZ is fully funded through our taxes so doesn't have irritating advertisements, yet listeners are fast moving to commercial stations. RNZ's chief executive and others were reported offering various unlikely explanations such as the location of their operation and how large their office space is. No mention of one of the most likely explanations, that RNZ's constant use of te reo and focus on all things Maori are not what most people want to hear. The elephant in the room.

David Farrar: Industry bodies should not compel Treaty worship

Hobson’s Pledge report:

Janet is a dedicated real estate agent with more than 30 years experience, but the Real Estate Authority is threatening to cancel her licence for five years. Why? Because Janet is taking a principled stance in refusing to complete an online training course instructing real estate agents on te reo Māori, tikanga, and the Treaty of Waitangi.

John Middleton: Waking a sleeping language

Our plan to revive the speaking of ta rē Moriori

When is a language extinct and when is it merely dormant? There are certainly languages that have passed over that line, and many remain threatened today. But what of those in the twilight zone – can we revive them, and what would that look like?

Languages that no longer have native speakers – that is, no one who learned it as a child – are often considered “dead”. And yet it’s not quite as clear cut as that.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 22/11/23

Māori Party is howling for the head of MFAT’s chief executive (and it is telling us about its grievances in plain English)

Without being able to tap into fresh news on the government’s official website today, Point of Order turned to Scoop’s parliamentary news site and found some politicians have been riled by the idea that government department should communicate with ministers in plain English.

Yep. The Māori Party is kicking up a fuss in reaction to a Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade decision to remove te reo Māori from some briefing papers.