Government minister and Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare has revealed he doesn't want te reo Māori to be introduced in schools as a core subject.
This week's Māori Language Week marked the 50th anniversary of when the petition asking for recognition of te reo Māori was delivered to Parliament.
To mark the week, Newshub Nation's Oriini Kaipara sat down with minita Peeni Henare in a wide-ranging interview exclusively in te reo Māori.
Speaking to Kaipara, Henare said Māori needed to safeguard te reo.
"If we give it to everyone and anyone, what will become of it? I have said to my colleagues that I do not support making te reo Māori compulsory in schools."
In the interview, Henare made it clear he still wanted to see current Māori language initiatives strengthened.
"Moreover, we have to consult with every iwi and Māori community across the country to see if they want to give their language to non-Māori," Henare added.
He said most of the feedback he'd received from Māori was they treasured te reo - and didn't want to give it to just anyone.
"I think it's the right way to ease non-Māori into supporting our language."
Henare said he wanted te reo Māori to thrive and be protected.
"If we give the essence of our language to others, oh dear, what would I say to my grandfather?"
The minister said by retaining te reo Māori, "we hold the life force and the prestige of our forefathers".
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