Link: [1]File-List

Kia ora

 

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

While there are no current intentions to review the requirements in the
Citizenship Act 1977 around the use of, or knowledge of, te reo Māori by
candidates for New Zealand citizenship by grant, we do encourage
candidates to take the oath or affirmation in te reo.

 

To support and encourage candidates to take the oath or affirmation in te
reo Māori, we provide the words and a recording that can be listened to
under the heading 'During the ceremony' on our website at
[2]www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/citizenship-ceremonies/

 

Ngā Mihi

Vaughan Millar (he/him) | Kaitohutohu Matua

Kāwai ki te Iwi |Service Delivery and Operations

Te Tari Taiwhenua |The Department of Internal Affairs

www.govt.nz/bdm | https://smartstart.services.govt.nz |
www.govt.nz/citizenship

www.passports.govt.nz | www.govt.nz/authentications |
www.govt.nz/congratulatory

https://endoflife.services.govt.nz |
https://wheturangitia.services.govt.nz | https://mytrove.co.nz

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Requestor <[3][FOI #23266 email]>

Sent: Sunday, 25 June 2023 7:14 pm

To: OIA <[4][email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Citizenship Requirement - Te Reo
Rangatira

 

[You don't often get email from
[5][FOI #23266 email]. Learn why this is
important at [6]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

TO: Department of Internal Affairs,

 

[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977 provides:

(1) The Minister may authorise the grant of New Zealand citizenship to any
person, including a person who may be a New Zealand citizen by descent,
who—

(d) satisfies the Minister that he or she meets each of the requirements
specified in subsection (2).

(2) The requirements referred to in subsection (1)(d) are as follows:

(e) that the applicant has sufficient knowledge of the English language:

 

Once forbidden for te reo to be spoken in schools, any use of the language
was met with corporal punishment.

Te Reo Rangatira is now revived, and so is the Spirit of the people!

 

In keeping with the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, when
will the Act be reformed to include a requirement for
citizenship-applicants to have sufficient knowledge of the native
language?

 

Regards,

 

Requestor

 

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[8][FOI #23266 email]

 

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ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

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References

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