"Despite our best efforts, the language is still in decline. We want to teach our language and keep it alive, we don't want it to die and our kids and mokopuna can't speak Maori.
"We need to be solution-focused and our iwi Maori need to become more productive in developing Maori language strategies. My fear as a language teacher is that we don't do anything to capture the technology available to us."
Dr Wiri said Te Pumanawa helped eliminate whakama (shyness) with students able to record themselves speaking and send it through to their tutor at Waiariki. Results will be emailed back within 24 hours. Face to face classes are also available which will be recorded and students can watch in their own time.
"A lot of our people are embarrassed that they don't know how to speak reo and they go to a classroom embarrassed that they might say it wrongly," he said.
The app pilot course will start on Monday and will cost $300 per student. Head of Waiariki's centre for business, research and enterprise Clarke Raymond said the fee was for the assessment work involving the tutors. He hoped the results of achievement from the inaugural enrolment will make it a strong case to receive Government tertiary funding.
"We're really excited to bring a new and innovative project which supports Maori development. When Rapata approached me about this we jumped at the chance. We are confident it will be a success and hope there will be an opportunity to expand this to other types of programmes at Waiariki," Mr Raymond said.
For information: www.waiariki.ac.nz.
