Maori Renaissance

Land Rights Renew Maori Culture, Maori Language, Maori Power

Jul 4, 2006 Woorama

There is a rebirth of Indigenous identity in Aotearoa, grounded in native title, enabling a level of native autonomy unprecedented elsewhere in the colonial world.

Progress for the Maori of Aotearoa over the last decade has been phenomenal, and could be described as a rebirth of indigenous power, language, culture and identity.

Indigenous Progress

• Indigenous leadership in environmental protection, heritage preservation, land and fisheries management.
• Energetic and enthusiastic recovery of language and culture.
• Universities like Kohanga Reo place Indigenous knowledge on an equal footing with western academic subjects.
• The aim for Maori education is no longer simply access and participation, but excellence.
• The Haka is an Indigenous dance that has become a symbol of national pride for all new Zealanders.
• In mainstream politics first nations are well represented, with Maori taking seats from Labour and looking set to take over the party in the near future.
• The population has increased 30 per cent.
• Unemployment is the lowest it has been in two generations.
• Maori are holding their own in business, politics, art, education, culture, film, literature, television and sport.
• Strong relationships have developed between Maori and the Crown around Treaty settlements.
• There is Indigenous voice and control in education, health, social programmes, and broadcasting.

The Future

• Treaty settlements will provide capital for further development.
• Maori income will increase and welfare dependency decrease.
• The renaissance of Indigenous language is so huge that soon children will be more competent Maori speakers than their parents.
• The indigenous knowledge economy will boost Maori earning capacity.
• The Maori workforce is projected to comprise 45 per cent of all workers within the next two decades.

The copyright of the article Maori Renaissance in Aboriginal Rights is owned by Woorama . Permission to republish Maori Renaissance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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