Dr. Timoti Karetu

On tonight's Chatroom we're talking to Dr Timoti Karetu - a man world renowned for his efforts to save te reo over the decades. He says the Government has it wrong; rather than spraying funds across all learners, money should be focused on those most passionate about learning the language, because they are the ones who will make sure it is used.

[@ohnean1]

I have read "down to earths" comment and also listened to this chat with Timoti and feel there are valid points in both sides , i agree that the time needed to make a living and get on with life in general can be very demanding and fitting things in can get very tricky, but the feel I get from Timoti is passion... my dad told me that you can show or teach someone something and they may or may not learn or absorb that lesson or skill,but if they are taught with a passion on whatever subject, then that passion can ignite things in that person where you can't stop them from wanting more...I agree with Timoti in this respect, you can't make people do things...but if they have a passion for something... you can't stop them!!!

[@hemiwaerea]

Awesome!!

[@CJCappella]

The interviewer keeps butting in...

[@downtoearth5108]

Kiaora te Ruma Korero noa me te Matanga reo Timoti Karetu - Greeting to you Chat Room and Timoti Karetu.
I want to respond to Timoti Karetu on the new language strategies put out there by Dr Peter Sharples.
Basically the problem is a social issue why the retention of the reo was lost and a social issue why the percentages are low with our Maori people actively seeking to learn the reo.
You mentioned 20% other stats that I’ve heard say less than 50% of Maori are actively seeking to learn the reo. Both are confirming.
Timoti Karetu is a great academic and teacher of the reo but he misses some real important issues.
Take a look at the recent polling leading up to the election 2014. On the Maori channel the priority issues to tackle as far Maori are concerned are education, family violence, cost of living, employment, followed by the Maori Language.
These issues have been consistent with all the electorates shown that the Maori language is not the number one priority for Maori. Everyday survival is the number priority.
It is not that Maori do not want to learn the language. The yearning, the desire to learn the language is a deep emotion felt within. The feeling is a sense of loss.
I know because I am one of these Maori. I made a conscious decision to be in full time work first and before anything else. I gave up one year to do a formal study to learn the language then I went back to work.
I continue to learn the language now by actively listening to it on TV or gatherings and by speaking it as much as possible. I also make use of what is available via the apps and over the internet.
If you truly want to give a language back to a people then you have to create better access and affordability to the communities. Allow the communities to come up with the access strategies as they know their communities.
It is a common trend around the world where cultures have been colonised their social structure has broken down.
I fully support giving the Iwi the opportunity to get the reo strategies out to the communities. It’s bold but then the current statistics tell the story that our people have stopped going to the institutions to learn the reo because of the social issues that I have outlined.
Up skilling the teachers is only one part of the equation. The biggest part of the sum is getting your students onto the pathway.
For example, a language strategy has recently started up on my Marae and conducted during the nights. It is a koha based fee at the moment but it allows my people to learn together and to face the challenges together in their community.
It also allows for our people to remain in work. You have to be given the opportunity to be innovative and that is what allowing the iwi will do.
Take for example the John Moorefield Te Whanake series. That’s a great example especially for me and other intermediate learners where you can continue a formal study through books and podcast while remaining in full time employment.
It is that full time employment that enables me to learn the language this way.
Both my parents were born between 1920 and 1930. Their first language was Maori but they soon joined the migration on mass of Maori from the rural setting into the urban areas because survival was the priority then and it is still the same now.
Timoti Karetu said he was one of the lucky ones. He grew up in rural Waikaremoana where Maori was spoken all the time then he moved into the towns in his area where the Maori language was not spoken.
Raising the statistics of Maori speaking Te Reo is a strategy about the unlucky ones who are the masses of our Maori people. Thank you Chat Room that this issue has been highlighted on a mainstream channel. Kiaora tatou.

[@toakasi6425]

Tena koe Zed raua ko Down to earth i te mutunga iho ko te mea nui me arohatia ki to tatou nei reo, kaua e waiho ma te putea e patua i ona tikanga me tona mauri koira te whakaaro rangatira e kii nei a Timoti. You make some good points down to earth although i don't see a link between domestic violence, cost of living, and unemployment in the context of language revitalisation.
Eveen if your poor that is no reason or excuse not to learn or up skill many of our greatest leaders in Maoridom came from humble beginnings and rose to fame and success equally in Te Ao pakeha as a result of their determination and passion to do better. I think Timoti makes a good point about apathy it is well and alive amongst the young impressionable minds of today although Maori generally speaking now are apathetic towards the quality of the language and often ridicule those who are more knowledgeable

[@WHANAUPEACE]

Immersion is the best way to learn any language. For te reo a iwi make yourself present at any kaupapa Māori when and where you can. Immersion peeps.