Should Pākehā be on the Māori Language Commission?

Actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand, who is Pākehā, has been appointed to the Māori Language Commission, Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori.

When Māori development minister Willie Jackson announced the news, it raised some eyebrows.

However, the evidence suggests that one of the commission’s original founders would have wanted it this way.

The late Koro Wetere, former minister for Māori Affairs and an MP for 26 years, was a leader of local and national language revitalisation starting in the mid 20th century. As well as teaching the area’s first Māori language night classes at Te Kūiti High School in the 1960s, he was instrumental in establishing the commission and later, sitting on it.

His name was on the lips of Māori language experts this week, explaining the reasons behind the unexpected appointment of Jennifer, who is a strong supporter and skilled speaker of te reo Māori.

In a statement, former Māori Language Commissioner Tā Timoti Karetu supported her appointment to the board.

“This is in line with Koro Wetere’s vision of including Pākehā on the board to ensure the survival of te reo Māori,” he said.

Koro’s daughter, Nedra Dunn, said her father was a thoughtful man who would have considered the situation from all angles.

“Dad’s vision was for our language to be recognised as an indigenous language of this country and that in order for our language to grow and prosper there needed to be people in positions that would champion its survival and drive to ensure our language would flourish.

“Jennifer Ward-Leland learned our language from prominent teachers and leaders like Sir Timoti Karetu,”

Nedra said.

“Balance is always important in decision making. Having a European who could not only speak but also loved our language on the board would hopefully give that balance,” Nedra said.

However, not all Māori language experts agree with the decision.

Hangatiki-based Leslie Koroheke is a former headmaster of what is now Te Wharekura o Maniapoto when it was an English language school and is now a resource teacher of Māori there.

Through kura reo wānanga, he learned the language from greats such as Tā Timoti Karetu,  Ngahinaturae (Ina) Te Uira, Amiria Simpson, Te Wharehuia Milroy, Mate Kaiwai, and Anita Moke.

He said he was glad that Jennifer had learned to speak the language well.

“But those positions should be for Māori,” Les said.