Provisional results from the Survey on the Health of the Mäori Language show that 42 per cent of Mäori aged 15 years and over (136,600 people) have some Mäori language skills. Te Puni Kökiri commissioned Statistics New Zealand to conduct this survey, which was undertaken during May and June 2001.

Nine per cent of Mäori adults could speak Mäori 'well' or 'very well', a further 33 per cent said they could speak Mäori 'fairly well' or 'not very well', while the remaining 58 per cent of Mäori said they could speak 'no more than a few words or phrases'. Analysis of the data by age group showed that high proficiency speaking skills are more likely in the older age groups, with 30 per cent of those aged 55 years and over saying they could speak Mäori 'well' or 'very well'.

However, there is some evidence that the proportion of younger people who are highly proficient at speaking Mäori is increasing, with 6 per cent of those aged 15-24 years reporting they could speak the language 'well' or 'very well', compared with 4 per cent of those aged 25-34 years. Young women, in particular, were more likely to report high proficiency skills than young men. Nine per cent of women aged 15-24 years said they could speak Mäori 'well' or 'very well', compared with 3 per cent of men in this age group. This age group showed the strongest gender difference.

Not surprisingly, the passive skill of listening was found to be stronger than the active skill of speaking. Fifteen per cent of adults (49,500 people) reported that they could understand spoken Mäori 'well' or 'very well'.

Survey results showed that use of Mäori language was limited in household and community environments. People were most likely to use their language skills in typical Mäori language domains such as on marae, at hui and within Mäori interest groups.

There was support for Mäori language revitalisation initiatives. Twenty-two per cent of Mäori adults reported they had helped or worked at one or more initiatives in the 12 months preceding the survey. Other topic areas covered in the survey included how people learnt to speak Mäori and participation in Mäori language education.

Final survey results are expected to be available in April 2002.

Also available in Te Reo Maöri version – He Tatauranga Takitaro no te Rangahau i te Ora o te Reo Maori.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

For more detailed information

For subject matter information contact: Steven Chrisp at Te Puni Kökiri 04 922 6114 Email: Chrit@tpk.govt.nz For technical information contact: Fiona Smillie at Statistics New Zealand 04 495 4855 Email: Fiona_Smillie@stats.govt.nz

7 December 2001 Cat 01.500 Set 01/02 - 092