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Pre-1840s
Maori is the predominant language of New Zealand. Used extensively in social, religious, commercial and political interactions among Maori, and between Maori and Pakeha. Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi -
Te Karere o Niu Tireni
First Maori language newspaper is published -
Te reo Maori minority language
Pakeha population surpasses the Maori population. Maori language becomes a minority language in New Zealand -
Maori population
First official census records Maori population at 56,049 -
Maori language outlawed
Native Schools Act decrees that English should be the language used in the education of Maori children. The policy is later rigorously enforced -
Maori population
Official census records Maori population at lowest point - 42, 113. -
Native speakers of Maori language
Ninety percent of Māori school children are native Māori speakers. Te Puke ki Hikurangi, Te Mareikura and other Māori newspapers publish national and international news and events in Māori as well extensive coverage of farming activities. -
Maori urban migration
Maori urban migration begins -
'Pepper pottered' communities
Māori urban migration continues throughout the 1950's. Māori families are 'pepper-potted' in predominantly non-Māori suburbs, preventing the reproduction of Māori community and speech patterns. Māori families choose to speak English, and Māori children are raised as English speakers. -
Maori population
Māori population is recorded in official census as 134,097 people. -
Concerns expressed
Concerns for the Māori language are expressed by Māori urban groups including Ngā Tamatoa and Te Reo Māori Society. -
Maori language petition
Māori Language Petition signed by 30,000 signatories sent to Parliament -
Numbers falling
Te Reo Māori claim WAI 11 brought before the Waitangi Tribunal by Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i te Reo Māori. The number of Māori speakers is estimated to have fallen to about 50,000 or 12 percent of the Māori population. -
Maori language act
Māori Language Act passed in Parliment; Māori declared to be an official language and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori established. Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust also established. -
Numbers of speakers?
He Taonga Te Reo (Māori language year) celebrated. Hui Taumata Reo Māori held in Wellington. A national Māori language survey shows that the number of Māori adults that are very fluent speakers of Māori has fallen to about 10,000 -
Kohanga reo and Kura Kaupapa
A total of 675 Te Kōhanga Reo and 30 developing Te Kōhanga Reo cater to 13,505 children. There are 54 Kura Kaupapa Māori and three whare wānanga. Over 32,000 students receive Māori medium education and another 55,399 learn the Māori language. -
National survey of Maori language
NZCER national survey shows that only about 70,000 Māori, or 18-20 percent of Māori, are fluent Māori speakers, and that most are elderly.
