NPM Principal Investigators Professor Rawinia Higgins and Professor Poia Rewi, together with researcher Vincent Olsen-Reeder have launched and published a series of reports from the long term research programme Ngā Whakakitenga a Te Kura Roa: Whaihua
Seven individual reports have been presented to Te Kōhanga Reo and Te Ataarangi, from this research programme which was first initiated in 2010.
Te Kura Roa was commissioned, and has been supported, by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga to gain critical insight into the value of the Māori language across our communities and is a part of a wider investigation into the national value of the Māori language.
The main objective of this research was to investigate the community value of the Māori language among the whānau of Te Kōhanga Reo and Te Ataarangi, and the primary goal of these publications is to highlight the positive factors of Māori language revitalisation in our communities.
The reports have been produced as a series of individual publications to allow whānau, iwi and hapū to go directly to the themes of interest to them. Each of the reports can be downloaded here.
The Te Kura Roa: Whaihua project examines community responsiveness to the value of the Māori language and centred around a collaboration with Te Kōhanga Reo and Te Ataarangi, two of the longest standing Māori language revitalisation efforts that were formed organically from within Māori communities.
Despite the odds, over the past three decades, these organisations have continued to produce a number of Māori language speakers. In some instances, their efforts and contributions to intergenerational transmissions is often overlooked by social or political factors, yet regardless they continue to be a significant feature of the Māori language revitalisation landscape.
It is important to note that against a background of research that continues to highlight the demise of the language, Te Kōhanga and Te Ataarangi continue to actively work to stem this process. These are the narratives and experiences that need to be shared and heralded to raise critical awareness about Māori language revitalisation, to create more active Māori language users and to promote intergenerational transmission within whānau and for future generations.
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