Prime Minister vows to immerse newborn daughter in Māori language and culture

Wednesday, August 8, 2018  

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand is vowing to ensure her newborn daughter learns the Māori language and understands Māori culture.

Ardern, who gave birth to Neve Te Aroha on June 21, made the announcement on Maori Television on Monday. She said her first child, whose middle name comes from the Māori language, will be immersed in indigenous ways.

“It's an official language," Ardern told the Native Affairs program. "It builds our understanding of Māori culture as well. For me, language is what sits at the heart of that.”

Māori language and culture are prevalent throughout New Zealand but only about 3.7 percent of the population can engage in a conversation about "everyday things," according to a recent census. Only about 50,000 people, or less than 2 percent of the population, said they are fluent in the language.

And in today's news from #NewZealand: 'Build our understanding': Jacinda #Ardern wants baby Neve to speak #Māori and English - via @nzherald https://t.co/txQYe6j2Su pic.twitter.com/PaMOj03dtW

— Helen Griffiths (@GriffithsH_) August 7, 2018

Efforts to revitalize the language have grown in recent years, with immersion schools becoming more popular. Bilingual programs are also available and Ardern said she hasn't decide which approach to take with her daughter.

Māori is related to Hawaiian, the indigenous language of Hawaii, and other languages spoken throughout Polynesian islands.

Read More on the Story:
PM's baby will speak Māori and English (Maori Television August 6, 2018)
New Zealand Leader Vows Daughter Will Learn Maori, a Waning Language (The New York Times August 8, 2018)