Support for Rotorua to become NZ's first bilingual city

Friday, 28 July 2017

Tourists will soon be greeted by both English and te reo street signs when they visit the 'heartland of Maoridom'.

There's support on the street for Rotorua to become New Zealand's first official bilingual city.

Councillors voted unanimously on Thursday in favour of giving te reo more prominence, after an appeal by Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

Asked by Stuff what she thinks, Emily Rua says: 'Absolutely, it would be a fantastic promotion of the language. It encourages not just tourists but locals alike. We had the big Haka here so why not.'

Flavell said street signs, posters and signage throughout Rotorua that included te reo would give more people exposure to the Maori language and add cultural, social and economic value to the district.

'It's a three way partnership between the Government, which is where I come in, the council and the people of Rotorua adapting to the change,' he said.

Jemma Pirrie says: 'Fantastic, wonderful. We have a strong Maori presence here and tourists as well so its a good way of picking up Maori words and encouraging more of the language to be used.'

Anna Hayes says: 'I'm in support 150 per cent, wholeheartedly. Everywhere in New Zealand should follow suit. It's the one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the world and we should celebrate it.'

* Community board support more bilingual signs in district

* Long road to becoming bilingual**

Connor Hignett says: 'Yes, definitely in support. Especially for tourists coming into Rotorua. Rotorua is seen as the Maori capital of New Zealand.'

'There's no compulsion, there's no te reo Maori police.'

People asked by Stuff were enthusiastically in favour of the change.

Pauline Burgess says: 'A fantastic proposal. I'm in complete support. I think te reo should be spoken on the streets and kept alive. In Denmark they speak Danish, in Sweden Swedish. Why do we miss out on the opportunity here to know more than one language?'

At a presentation to Rotorua Lakes Council, the chair of the Te Tatau o Te Arawa board, Te Taru White, said their group would be happy to lead the te reo charge.

'Rotorua can be the first city in Aotearoa to be bilingual and what a city to do it in,' he said.

Tourists will soon be greeted by both English and te reo street signs when they visit Rotorua.

'It can add so much more value to the tourism experience. We are saying to community and council, as your partner we are very happy to lead this.'

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick fully backed the proposal, describing Rotorua as 'the heartland of Maoridom'.

Te Ururoa Flavell, co-leader of the Maori Party, said signage throughout Rotorua that included te reo would give more people exposure to the Maori language.

Some concern was raised about the costs of adopting a second official language, and councillor Rob Kent also raised the issue of Mandarin signage to cater to the Chinese tourism sector.

White noted, however, that te reo, unlike Mandarin, was an official New Zealand language.

He also assuaged fears over cost.

'Total translations [of every council document]. No, it doesn't get to the extent that everything is translated. That'd be a nonsense,' he said.

'We're sensible enough not to change everything, just where it matters.'

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said she fully backed the proposal, describing Rotorua as 'the heartland of Maoridom'.

Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson also supported the move as 'a no brainer'.

'We are the last place in Aotearoa to be cringeworthy about being bilingual.'

Councillor Trevor Maxwell shared an interesting angle on the proposal too.

'Rotorua being the place it is, there's going to be a lot of translation from Maori to English.'