Flavell sets himself a new year language challenge

PHOTO/FILE

Waiariki MP and Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has set himself a language challenge for 2017 alongside his wife Erana Hond-Flavell - and Rotorua locals are right behind him.

The couple have made a New Year's resolution to talk to each other only in Maori for a year.

The Maori Party co-leader said he often found himself talking to his wife in English - particularly after arriving home from a stint at Parliament.

"When I come back from Wellington it's my wife's view that I stay too easily in English," Mr Flavell said. "And it was her challenge that we need to be a bit stronger in trying to maintain a Maori-speaking environment."

Mr Flavell said he would also try to avoid English when speaking with other te reo speakers.

"There are a lot of people around, some in my office, who I deal with on a day-to-day basis where we should be conversing in Maori," he said.

"The challenge is for me to try and stay with Maori language as much as possible, understanding of course that in the parliamentary environment it's not always easy to do that.

"I'm Minister for Maori Development, and I wanted to take a lead role to promote the speaking of the Maori language as much as possible."

Local kaumatua Sir Toby Curtis said he admired Mr Flavell for undertaking such a challenge.

"I think it's very courageous and really it is something we should all be doing ... it will be difficult and I want to thank him for his courage."

Sir Toby said when he was younger he was not encouraged to speak Maori but he felt there had been a resurgence and he would look to try to undertake Mr Flavell's challenge in his own meetings.

Rick Mansell, co-ordinator of the Linton Park Community Trust, also commended Mr Flavell on taking up the challenge but said it would be tough. He said he knew of other people who tried to do something similar who had found it "too hard" on a daily basis, especially in a work environment.

Last year the Linton Park Community Centre offered free 12-week te reo Maori classes.

"The classes were full ... lots of people see a real reason to learn. Learning te reo Maori adds enrichment, value and pride and allows us to know the stories embedded [in the Maori culture], " said Mr Mansell.

Mr Flavell has also asked other Maori speakers to provide him with new words to ensure his vocabulary doesn't become stale. These are being posted on his Facebook page, and followers are encouraged to use the words in sentences.

According to Census data, between 1996 and 2013 the proportion of Maori able to converse in te reo fell from 25 per cent to 21 per cent.