Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi spoke to journalists only in te reo Māori on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
A Labour MP says Te Pāti Māori is starting to create an "exclusive bunch of Māoris" after the party's co-leader spoke to journalists only in te reo Māori on Tuesday, but the Greens say it's not Rawiri Waititi's fault the system isn't set up for te reo Māori to be spoken and received.
When asked why he was doing so, Waititi pointed out it was Māori Language Week and said it was silly to even question it.
"Mehemea ko ō koutou pātai kei roto i te reo Māori, ka whakautu. Mena kei roto i te reo Pākehā, kāre au mō te whakautu (If your questions are in Māori, I'll answer. If they're in Pākehā, I won't answer)."
It's been met with criticism from other parties who say it's performative, weaponises the language and risks shutting people out, but Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says it's entirely appropriate during Māori language week and National's Tama Potaka says it could prompt journalists to learn more.
Labour's Shanan Halbert said it was important to him at a personal level that both Māori and English were spoken, and that all Māori on their te reo journey were included.
"I've been on mine for 20 years. Some of my friends have only been on it for one year, other friends are absolutely fluent, but most of all, this week is about celebrating where everyone's at on their te reo journey."
He said he didn't accept Te Pāti Māori creating an "exclusive bunch" of Māori.
"I want us to include everyone, all New Zealanders, and that's personally what I stand for."
Labour MP Shanan Halbert. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sympathetic to Halbert's position and said it was a choice for Te Pāti Māori as to whether they communicate "with the entirety of the New Zealand public or not".
"It is Te Wiki o te reo Māori, so it is Māori Language Week - I'm sure the media are capable of doing subtitles."
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said it was "perfectly appropriate" given it was Te Wiki o te Reo Māori."
"We only get one official week of te reo Māori a year."
Davidson said it was akin to her using te reo Māori in the House while asking questions on Tuesday. Waititi spoke in English during his supplementary questions to the Finance Minister.
"I think it's fair enough that we can speak in our native tongue anywhere, including on the tiles."
Davidson also pointed out it wasn't Waititi's fault - or other reo speakers - the system wasn't set up for te reo Māori to be spoken and received.
"That systemic failure isn't on the shoulders of speakers, that's just an indication our system isn't set up."
She gave examples of translators being available on the tiles, where MPs are questioned, or media outlets being able to provide reo Māori speaking journalists.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
National Minister Tama Potaka pointed out it might encourage journalists to learn more of the Māori language.
"It's important the audiences who you serve actually get to understand what is being said and what's being communicated, and hopefully news outlets can put on more bilingual captions."
He said te reo Māori shouldn't be forced on people, but hoped there was some "give and take".
ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said Waititi was weaponising the reo to make a "political point".
"He's taking advantage of the fact that most of you journalists can't speak te reo, and therefore you're at a disadvantage in the conversation."
Questions were asked of Waititi by outlets 1News, Whakaata Māori, RNZ and Stuff.
Seymour said the point of conversing and talking to one another was to share ideas and information, and "that kind of attitude just stops that happening".
"Are you trying to promote te reo Māori in Te Wiki o te reo Māori, or are you just being obstructive and obstinate?
"The worst thing I can think of is making the Māori language a point of division and obstruction, rather than bringing people together."
ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
NZ First Minister Shane Jones echoed this sentiment, saying it was "performative".
He said the issues Te Pāti Māori represented needed to be communicated in both languages because a lot of Māori still got their information in English.
"It's performative, and it's the sort of thing that, sadly, does put a lot of people off the deal because it becomes weaponised."
Waititi was fronting journalists at parliament yesterday for the first time since Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris doubled down on his comments about non-Māori campaigning in the Māori electorates.
He reiterated the party leaders had not changed their position, despite party President John Tamihere telling Waatea this week he agreed with the substance of the comments, but acknowledged the way Ferris framed them was "far too aggressive".
Asked whether there were differing opinions within the party, Waititi pointed out there were a range of views within te ao Māori.
He said what came of the comments was beautiful conversations now taking place with those communities affected.
Hipkins was questioned about Tamihere's comments, and forced to say again the sentiment expressed by Ferris was "entirely wrong" and "incompatible" with the sort of government he wanted to lead.
"We are a country where we celebrate our diversity, it's going to take all of us to turn around the country's fortunes. That means working together.
"There is no good reason why those campaigning in Māori electorates can't rely on the support from a range of New Zealanders."
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