Why have a Strategy?

The Māori language is an endangered language and within the Kāi Tahu population this is most evident. Of all iwi, Kāi Tahu has the worst statistics for the health of the language with less than 1% of the tribe claiming to be competent speakers of the language.

In order to change this Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu developed the KMK strategy to try and reverse the degradation of the language and increase the number of speakers within the tribe who were using the language as the main form of communication in their homes and with their children. The main aim is to bring about intergenerational transfer of the language and give te reo Māori a greater chance of surviving for future generations of Kāi Tahu - mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.