Language forms an integral aspect of the culture of any nation. It reflects the history, identity, custom, and value of a people (Riley 2007). Yet most languages globally face extinction, thus posing a challenge to the very existence of those cultures that they serve. (O'Neill 2025) In response to this disturbing trend, the world has seen a conscious effort in many regions to revive and save dying languages (Peters 2014).

In this blog post, we discuss the decline and revival of the Māori language, examining how this process has occurred in New Zealand, the role of different institutions and communities, and the remaining challenges in guaranteeing the language's future.

What Are Endangered Languages?

Endangered languages are those languages that are under a genuine threat of dying out, often because the speakers are declining in number and the language is no longer being transmitted to younger people (Lee 2025). In certain instances, languages become extinct once they cease to be utilized in everyday life, education, or cultural practices.

Languages may be placed in a number of categories according to how endangered they are. On one end of the scale are "safe" languages, which are spoken by many people and occupy a number of fields in society, such as government, media, and education. On the other end are "critically endangered" languages, which are spoken by very few individuals, sometimes only in the home, and are in danger of being lost within a generation.

Linguistic diversity around the globe is in peril, as UNESCO now has an estimated 2,500 languages on its endangered list (Сиддикжонова and Мухамедова 2024). Not only is their loss the erasure of a language tool for communication, but it also signals the decline of cultural, historical, and intellectual identity of its people.

The Māori Language: A Rich Heritage Under Threat

Māori, the indigenous language of the Māori people of New Zealand (Aotearoa), was previously the prevailing language of the country (Minister 2023). Māori settlers, who migrated to New Zealand from Eastern Polynesia more than 1,000 years ago, established a unique culture, mythology, and social hierarchy, and te reo Māori was an essential aspect of their life (Chapple 2024).

But with the arrival of British settlers in the early 19th century began a relentless decline in Māori usage. Colonization resulted in oppression of Māori language and culture, as English was imposed by European settlers as the mainstream language. English became used by government, education, and business, and Māori children were discouraged from using their native language at school. The political and social atmosphere against the use of Māori language created a decline in fluent speakers, and by the mid-20th century, Māori was an endangered language (O'Neill 2025).

By the 1970s, the number of speakers of Māori had declined drastically, and people were afraid that the language would vanish in a generation. But the 1970s also saw the start of a grassroots movement to turn things around (Gage 2024).

The Māori Language Revitalization Movement

The revitalization of the Māori language has been a complex process, encompassing activism, education, media, and political action. In the last few decades, Māori language revitalization has been on the agenda of the Māori people, government institutions, and other stakeholders. Although the journey to revitalization has been eventful, it has also been a positive model of community action (Houkamau, Bahamondes et al. 2024).

1. The Māori Language Petition of 1972: A Pivotal Moment

The Māori language revitalization movement accelerated in the 1970s, when Māori activists started to call for more recognition and protection of their language. A turning point occurred in 1972, when a coalition of Māori elders, educators, and activists delivered the Māori Language Petition to the New Zealand government (Day 2023). This 30,000-plus-signature petition (about 1/6th of the Māori population at the time), signed by concerned citizens, demanded that the government act to secure and advance Māori as an official language.

The petition was a turning point in the struggle to save the Māori language. It received widespread publicity and initiated national discussions regarding the place of Māori in New Zealand society. The success of the petition not only brought attention to the language difficulties of the Māori people but also mobilized Māori activism, which would persist through the 1980s and beyond.

2. Institutional and Legislative Support: The Māori Language Act and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

To meet the increasing public demand for Māori language rights, the government of New Zealand made a series of significant moves in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1987, the government formally recognized Māori as an official language of New Zealand under the Māori Language Act. This was a groundbreaking achievement, since it was the first time that Māori had been accorded legal status as an official language of New Zealand.

In the same year, the government also established Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, which was tasked with promoting and overseeing the use of the Māori language in various areas of New Zealand life, including education, the media, and government institutions. The Commission has been instrumental in supporting the revitalization of Māori, producing dictionaries, educational resources, and developing language policies that have supported its teaching and use.

3. Māori Language Education: Kura Kaupapa Māori and Language Immersion Programs

One of the pillars of Māori language revitalization has been the creation of Māori language education programs. The programs were set up not only to learn the language but also to provide a setting where Māori would be used as a medium of instruction, such that younger generations would learn their native language.

The most significant initiative in this area has been the establishment of Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori immersion schools) in the 1980s. These schools provide a complete immersion education in Māori, where all courses are taught in the Māori language. Kura Kaupapa Māori schools have been remarkably successful, with more and more Māori children enrolling in these schools and becoming fluent in their language.

The Kura Kaupapa system was extended in the 1990s, with the opening of Wharekura, secondary schools that still provide a Māori language immersion curriculum. These schools offer a full educational experience, from mathematics and science to history and the arts, all through the medium of Māori.

Apart from Kura Kaupapa, Māori language training is now provided at every educational level, ranging from early childhood education to tertiary education. Examples of universities such as the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington provide Māori language courses where students can become competent in the language and acquire knowledge about Māori culture and history.

4. Media's Role: Māori Television and Online Platforms

Media has been a key player in the revival of Māori. Among the most significant milestones was the establishment of Māori Television in 2004. This television network was intended to meet the needs of Māori speakers, providing a variety of programming, such as news, documentaries, drama, and children's shows, all in Māori. The establishment of Māori Television was a huge leap toward mainstreaming the usage of the Māori language in public.

Apart from television, the rise of digital media has had a significant influence on language revitalization. Language apps, websites, and social media offer accessible resources for individuals to learn and practice Māori. Digital media, such as YouTube channels, podcasts, and Māori-language websites, offer accessible resources to individuals interested in learning Māori at their convenience.

Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter have also become primary areas where Māori speakers can talk to each other and exchange cultural content, further immersing the language in the daily lives of New Zealanders.

5. Language Legislation and Cultural Reclamation

New Zealand's legislative framework for the Māori language has developed to provide more robust safeguards for the language. The Māori Language Act 2016, for instance, provided additional provisions to strengthen Māori language rights, such as the formation of a Māori language strategy and ongoing building of Māori language services within government departments (McCarty 2021).

Aside from language laws, Māori revitalization is intrinsically part of the overall movement for Māori reclamation of culture. Language is closely associated with cultural practice, spiritual affiliation, and identity (McCarty 2021). Māori language revitalization is part of an overarching movement to reclaim and safeguard Māori custom, arts, and cultural practices that were dislocated during colonization.

Māori language is also being applied in ceremonies, powhiri (welcomes), cultural activities, and demonstrations, where it is a representation of resistance and resilience. Language is not only a tool of communication; it is a tool for cultural expression and political action (Schleppegrell and Oteíza 2023).

Challenges in Revitalizing the Māori Language

Although the achievements are being recorded, Māori revitalization is still hampered by some challenges. The first challenge is that, even with the increased numbers of speakers, it is still a minority language in New Zealand and only approximately 20% of the Māori people speak the language on a regular basis (Dinora 2025). For Māori to become a genuinely mainstream language in New Zealand, it must be used more extensively at home, at work, and in public.

The other problem is the gap between generations of language use. Although Māori language study programs have achieved great success in educating younger generations, (Gorter and Berardi-Wiltshire 2025). For the language to live on, it must be used in everyday life, not merely in educational or formal situations.

In addition, commodification of Māori in certain sectors, especially in business and tourism, has been cause for concern that the language can lose its profound cultural meaning and be used as nothing more than a marketing instrument.

Successes and Achievements

In spite of the persisting challenges, revitalization of the Māori language is a multi-faceted success story. Its most salient achievements are:

•Improved Fluency: The number of fluent speakers of Māori has continued to grow, with Māori now being taught in most schools and universities throughout New Zealand.

•Reclamation of Culture: Language revival has been part of the larger reclamation of Māori culture, making it possible for younger generations to identify with their heritage and roots.

•International Inspiration: The achievements of the Māori language revitalization campaign have provided international inspiration to emulate similar processes. The revamp of the Māori has been modeled and researched by other indigenous communities like the United States' Native American nations and the Canadian indigenous nations, and Australia and Europe's indigenous nations.

Conclusion

The renaissance of the Māori language in New Zealand is an inspiring illustration of how a language that was on the verge of extinction can be revived by collective action from communities, governments, and institutions. Although there are still hurdles to be crossed, the advances of the past decades have demonstrated that it is feasible to stem the decline of an endangered language and establish a viable future for it.

The revival of the Māori language is an inspiration to other at-risk languages globally, providing an example of determination, community motivation, and pride in one's culture. Through persistence, the Māori language will live on and be promoted to future generations, and the extensive culture of the Māori will not be lost but honored and treasured for generations to come.

 

This addition features further information about the historical context, the general movement of language revival, and problems confronting the Māori language revitalization movement. Please inform me if you'd prefer further explanation for a particular section!

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