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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Maori online dictionary live

The launch of the Maori Language Commission's 'I-Papakupu' will give historic meanings for new terms restoring some native components of Te Reo Maori.

Hei ta kaipapaho Julian Wilcox, ko tera ano he painga o tenei rauemi mo te hunga e whakaako ana i te reo, ahakoa te reanga.

The I-Papakupu is online at korero.maori.nz

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF LANGUAGE STRATEGY

The Maori Party want the government to get out of the way and let Maori take control of the language strategy.

Te Ururoa Flavell, the party's broadcasting spokesperson, says the revitalisation of te reo was driven by Maori, and every advance was a result of litigation, rather than the largesse of the Crown.

He says it's time for Maori to have greater control of the key institutions that drive te reo forward: the Maori language commission Te Taura Whiri and broadcast funder Te Mangai Paho.

“We're big enough and strong enough and knowlegable enough now to look after the issues of accountability. Our people have a track record of being able to run our own businesses,” Mr Flavell says.

SAMUELS PACKS IN BEHIND PETERS

New Zealand first leader Winston Peters has received resounding support from fellow Maori MP Dover Samuels over his receipt of donations.

The Labour list MP says the Foreign Affairs Minister is doing a good job on behalf of the people of New Zealand.

“Very clearly there’s a political agenda by the major newspapers, especially The Herald against the Honorable Winston Peters,” Mr Samuels says.

He says Mr Peters has been singled out for a major hatchet job by overseas owned newspapers which do not have an interest in the social, economic and cultural fabric of New Zealand but want to exploit the people with the political agenda of getting National elected.

ONE WORD A DAY THE FOON STRATEGY

One word a day, one sentence a week... that's the easiest way for tauiwi to learn te reo Maori... according to Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon.

Koia tera te koromatua o Turanga-nui-Kiwa, na nga tangata kaihoko o te toa huawhenua a ona maatua ia i whakaako ai te reo Maori.

Hei taana na te hianga ka hua ake te reo.

GOOGLE MAORI LAUNCHED

What do Maori, Elmer Fudd, Klingon and the Swedish Chef have in common?

They all have their own language option on Internet search engine Google.

Poutaua Biasiny-Tule, who with his wife, Nikolasa headed a team of volunteers which took a Google template and created the reo option, says it took 15 months, 40 translators, 1600 terms, 8000 words ... but it will all be worth it when the page goes live with a launch in Rotorua today.

“Lots of people have been working, getting the initial translations and then reviewing and moderating to see it fits first with the group, back and forth, back and forth. Lots of new words to translate, lots of new concepts, but also just bringing what we already have to the table,” Mr Biasiny-Tule says.

“For us it was just good to keep the language relevant to a younger generation. Of course Google’s the biggest search engine. We already use the tool so it’s just how to gain ownership and how to get a lot of our rangatahi more comfortable with using it.

Tongans already have their own Google option, and a New Zealand-based whanau is keen to set up a Samoan version.

TAURA WHIRI DEFENDS STAUNCH POSITION

Call them reo nazis if you want, but the head of Te Taura Whiri says quality control is an important part of the Maori Language Commission's role.

Huhana Rokx, the commission's chief executive, says about 200,000 Kiwis use some Maori language in conversation and about 30,000 of those are non-Maori.

She says while increasing the numbers of speakers is important and welcomed by Te Taura Whiri it's also crucial to retain the integrity of the language.

“Kia mauri tonu te reo. As much as we move forward in the future we need to be mindful that in that future there will probably come a day when more non-Maori than Maori will be speaking our language, so the changes in that will be huge again. So what we’re trying to recapture is the history of that language and take that into that future,” Ms Rokx says.

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