Compulsory Te Reo Māori Education: The Death of the Language?

Abstract

Globalization has threatened the survival of hundreds of indigenous languages, including te reo Māori in New Zealand, but revivalists must be careful to support efforts that truly keep these languages and cultures alive. Scholars in both the educational and anthropological communities debate the issue of language revitalization in postcolonial countries, but political leaders in these countries may pass governmental policies that are not necessarily informed by these academic conversations. Many politicians in New Zealand argue for compulsory te reo Māori classes to revitalize the language; however, I argue that the New Zealand government should not support a policy of compulsory te reo Maori classes in schools, as this would destroy, rather than revive, the language.