29 August 2023
Grace Haden
[FYI request #23804 email]
Dear Grace
Official Information Request
Our Ref: OIA 2023-0169
I refer to your official information request received on 12 August 2023 where you have asked:
“By way of OIA please advise
1.the policy with regards the use of Te Reo Maori in documents which are intended for non maori
speakers ie the general propulation of New Zealanders , to what degree can te reo be used ,
and is it relevant when the majority of the population do not speak the language ie it is not
concise,clear or appropriate for the intended audience
2. Is there an official dictionary where non maori speakers can research the words to obtain
the same meaning as intended in documentation ... what I am looking for is there an equivalent
"oxford dictonary" for Maori which all users of the language use /can refere to to get the
same meaning
3. The vast majority which is near 100% of the population speak english and the use of english
will prevent miscommunications unless it is a place name or an article identified only as Maori,
please advise why htere is a need to use Maori for such things as family, work days of the week
etc wors whihc have perfectly well known and acceptable meaning of al New Zealanders
4. and why have the Government departments been given names which are not a direct
translation but an assigned Maori name , why are these names not recognised official y and
refered to in statute
5 is there a rule for using te Reo when there is a concise accurate and well understood English
word which can be interpreted by the majority of the intended readers
6. the requirement to use foot notes or cross refences to indicated the intended interpretation
of the maori words used”
Our Response
In response to parts one, three, five and six of your request, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service
Commission does not have any policies relating to the use of te reo in documents which are intended
for non Māori speakers or on rules for using te reo Māori when there is an accurate English word and
there is no requirement to use foot notes or cross references to indicate the intended interpretation
of Māori words used. We are therefore refusing these parts of your request under section 18(e) of the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) on the grounds the information does not exist.
Level 10, RBNZ Building | 2 The Terrace | PO Box 329
Wel ington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
Māori dictionary
There is not an official Māori dictionary, however, there are a range of different Māori dictionaries that
serve different functions, such as the Williams dictionary of the Māori Language and the He Pātaka
Kupu, which is a Māori to Māori dictionary. The same words can have multiple meanings - this is true
for both te reo Maori and English.
The Māori Language Act 2016 (the Act) which is administered by Te Puni Kokiri, has created a new way
of approaching language revitalisation. Section 3(2)(a)) of the Act affirms the status of the Māori
language as:
• the indigenous language of New Zealand; and
• a taonga of iwi and Māori; and
• a language valued by the nation; and
• an official language of New Zealand
In line with the Act, and fol owing extensive consultation, Cabinet approved Maihi Karauna, the
Crown’s Strategy for Māori Language Revitalisation 2019–2023. The Public Service is identified as one
of three priority groups under Maihi Karauna because the public sector has far reaching interactions
with Māori and other New Zealanders. Cabinet directed that al departments of the Public Service
develop a Māori Language Plan.
The role of the Public Service, defined by th
e Public Service Act 2020, includes supporting the Crown
in its relationships with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi. This includes
increased responsibilities on Public Service leaders and their agencies to develop and maintain the
capability of the Public Service to understand Māori perspectives and engage with Māori.
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (the Commission) recognises the aims and aspirations
of Māori and the need for greater involvement of Māori in the Public Service. The Commission has
made commitments under Te Angitū (our Māori capability strategy) to build competency in te reo
Māori as part of our Māori language plan. These are reflected in our style guide and published material
and supported through translation processes.
We continue to support agencies to build and maintain the capability of the Public Service to engage
with Māori and understand Māori perspectives in a range of ways including:
• Actively encouraging all agencies and leaders to grow Māori Crown capability through the
implementation of Whāinga Amorangi: Transforming Leadership
• Actively supporting the implementation of the Maihi Karauna Crown strategy for
revitalisation of te reo Māori, led by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori | Māori Language
Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri
• Col ecting data and information to support MCR capability development. This was collected
as part of
Te Taunaki Public Service Census 2021. The Census data sets a baseline for the
Public Service to build on.
Government department names
Departments are able to use trading names other than their legal name, whether for particular
business units or for all of the organisation. After Parliament agreed in the Māori Language Act 1987
to recognise te reo Māori as an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand, most departments and
other agencies acquired a Māori name to use alongside their English name. The use of te reo in the
names of government departments, either alone or alongside English naming, is an important step in
the Crown’s recognitions of its partnership obligations to Māori. Whether to have a Māori name or a
te reo Māori translation and how to use it has been a matter for individual agencies.
You may find the information available on Te Puni Kokiri Ministry of Māori Development’s website on
Māori-English Bilingual Signage guide helpful. The guide suggests equality of languages, or placing
the indigenous language first if the nature of the sign or logo means the wording has to be stacked.
The guide also notes that languages are easier to read, from a design perspective, if they are
differentiated, which is why the reo Māori is bolded in a number of logo marks.
Te reo Māori is one of our two official languages in Aotearoa New Zealand, (English is our defacto
official language) and Government is actively committed to working in partnership with Iwi and Māori
to continue to protect and promote the language. Government agencies aim to promote te reo Māori
in an inclusive way and not impose any barriers to participate. The use of te reo Māori in resources
and signs is part of the strategy to help New Zealanders revitalise the language.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) on the Te Kawa
Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Document Outline
