An event is being held at Parliament to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition being delivered to politicians.
The petition, which called for te reo Māori to be actively recognised across New Zealand and for the language to be taught in schools, was delivered to Parliament on September 14, 1972 by representatives of Ngā Tamatoa and Te Rōpū Reo Māori, the Te Reo Māori Society.
It was signed by more than 30,000 people and was a significant moment in the revitalisation of the language. Later in 1972, the first Māori Language Day was held, with it being expanded to a full week in 1975. This week is Te Wiki o te reo Māori.
Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson said the language is unique to Aotearoa and those who signed the petition "saw it as the taonga that it is".
"It is also a humble day as there is much left to do in the next 50 years. But rangatahi and kaumātua, Māori and Pākehā, are taking up the challenge as did their predecessor."
Ngahiwi Apanui, the chief executive of the Māori Language Commission, told AM on Wednesday morning that the petition "sparked the modern-day Māori language revitalisation movement".
"We look back over the last 50 years and we say ka pai but there is more work to do.
"You're using te reo Māori this morning shows just how much our people of New Zealand are now trying to revitalise te reo Māori New Zealand's language"
Dr Robert Pouwhare, a Māori media lecturer, said the anniversary is a "moment of great celebration for us and great triumph". He believes things have "changed radically".
"So many more young people and other New Zealanders are beginning to embrace our language, our culture and our world view."
Hana Te Hemara was among those who advocated for the petition in 1972 and told RNZ on the day of the signing that the language was important to New Zealand's identity.
"Often you hear the quotation in New Zealand that we are two races but one people. I feel we are objecting to being phased out, that Māori language has a natural heritage in this country and through the language the New Zealander as a whole will get his identity."
Selected pages from the petition are being displayed at the National Library. A ceremony was held earlier on Wednesday to open the Petihana exhibition 'Tōku reo, tōku ohooho'.
Alexander Turnbull Library Curator Māori Paul Diamond, one of those who selected the pages to exhibit, said it is "striking how many non-Māori signed" the petition.
"Even though September 1972 can seem like a different world to the 2022 of Māori language education and other initiatives, the coming together of Māori and non-Māori to support te reo Māori remains an inspiration for later generations," said Diamond.
Also featured at the exhibition are a number of photographs showing events significant to the development of the language over the past 50 years, as well as sculptures from artist Tame Iti.
The exhibition will be open free of charge until December 3.
