Why we need a national languages policy
New Zealand needs a national languages policy, Associate Professor Sharon Harvey says.
Such a policy would integrate language support and recognition across a range of areas, including health care and education. And, importantly, it would ensure that all citizens are able to participate fully and equitably in society, she says.
“Language policy might sound like a distant bureaucratic concept, but it impacts our classrooms, our communities, and the futures of the tamariki we teach.”
Dr Harvey says that in Aotearoa our history with language policy is complex and often painful.
“For instance, during our history, children were punished for speaking te reo Māori at school. This legacy caused language loss and deep cultural impacts that are still evident today.
In recent decades, te reo Māori has experienced a renaissance and Pacific languages have also started receiving some attention, she says.
“However, many languages do not fare well in English-dominated Aotearoa.”
Part of a national languages policy would be a language and education policy, Dr Harvey says.
“Currently, New Zealand boasts some excellent initiatives such as Māori-medium education and a few bilingual Pacific programs. However, these efforts are too often isolated.
“Many educators report that they lack clear, consistent guidance on how to effectively teach te reo Maori, for instance, and how to support multilingual learners.
“The result is uneven support. Some students thrive while others are left behind.”
A national policy might see schools develop comprehensive language plans that include bi- and multi-lingual programs, multilingual signage and dedicated language resource centres, Dr Harvey says.
“The goal would be to create a systematic approach that ensures consistency and sustainability in language education. The other side is about the everyday practices and attitudes that shape classroom culture.
“We want to build an inclusive environment where every student feels that their language is valued.”
Dr Harvey recently hosted an episode on the podcast Language Teaching Matters Aotearoa | New Zealand that examines what a national languages policy could be. In it, she talks with guests Susan Warren, Co-Convenor of Languages Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, and Lanuola Moe-Penn, National Secretary for the Pacific Early Childhood Education Association .