The Government has announced a new $15 million community fund for Maori language projects.
Announcing the launch of the fund as part of Maori language week, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said he believed there would be tremendous support and interest in the scheme.
Mr Horomia said the aim of the fund
was to revitalise the Maori language by providing Maori organisations and communities with assistance to run their own te Reo programmes, projects and activities.
"A language will die if it is not used and I truly believe that the heart of language revitalisation lies in the community."
He said the fund was one of a number of Government initiatives, like the recently announced plans for a Maori television channel, to promote and strengthen te Reo Maori.
"The new fund is special because it addresses the demand for projects by the community, for the community."
$2 million a year will be available to groups for the next three years and the remaining money will be invested. Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Maori (the Maori language Commission) will administer the fund.
Applications for grants will be approved by a management committee of four Government and four Maori representatives.
The Maori representatives will be appointed after consultation with Maori interest groups and Government representatives will come from the Maori language Commission, Te Mangai Paho, Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Education.
"The next priority is to get the scheme up and running and I am hopeful that interested groups will be able to apply early next year," Mr Horomia said.
