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Maori Language (Te Reo Maori) Bill (Consistent) [2014] NZBORARp 19 (24 June 2014)

Last Updated: 24 March 2019

Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill

24 June 2014

Hon Christopher Finlayson QC, Attorney-General


Legal Advice

Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990: Māori Language (Te Reo Māori)

Bill


  1. We have considered whether the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill (‘the Bill’) is consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (‘the Bill of Rights Act’).
  2. We have not yet received a final version of the Bill. This advice has been prepared with the latest version of the Bill (PCO 17845/1.23) on the understanding that the final version of the Bill will only contain minor editing amendments and will not contain any substantive changes. We will provide you with updated advice if the final version of the Bill includes amendments that affect the conclusions in this advice.
  3. The Bill replaces the Maori Language Act 1987 and amends the Broadcasting Act 1989 and

the Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Māori) Act 2003.


  1. The purpose of the Bill is to affirm the status of the Māori language as a taonga of iwi and Māori and an official language of New Zealand by:
    1. establishing a new statutory entity, Te Mātāwai, to provide leadership to iwi and Māori in their role as kaitiaki of the Māori language; and
    2. in support of that role, providing for the following two entities under the leadership of Te

Mātāwai:

  1. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (which is responsible for promoting te reo Māori and

giving effect to its status as an official language); and

  1. Te Māngai Pāho (which is responsible for promoting Māori language and culture by

making funds available for broadcasting and programme production).


  1. We have concluded that the Bill appears to be consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the Bill of Rights Act.

Tania Warburton


Acting Chief Legal Counsel Office of Legal Counsel

Disclaimer

In addition to the general disclaimer for all documents on this website, please note the following: This advice was prepared to assist the Attorney-General to determine whether a

report should be made to Parliament under s 7 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 in relation to the Maori Language (Te Reo Maori) Bill. It should not be used or acted upon for any other purpose. The advice does no more than assess whether the Bill complies with the minimum guarantees contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The release of this advice should not be taken to indicate that the Attorney-General agrees with all aspects of it, nor does its release constitute a general waiver of legal professional privilege in respect of this or any other matter. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that this document is an accurate reproduction of the advice provided to the Attorney-General, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Crown Law Office accepts any liability for any errors or omissions.


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