"Our elders would get slapped with a ruler for speaking Te Reo"

Today marks 50 years since the Maori language petition was presented at Parliament, igniting the Maori language movement. On a cold September 14th 1972, Hana Te Hemara and a group of elders and language champions marched on parliament presenting the petition signed by 33 thousand Maori and Pakeha, and calling for the introduction of Maori language and culture in schools nationwide. By that time, te reo Maori was in grave danger of dying out, but the actions of the petitioners sparked change - kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, wananga followed, and Te Reo Maori became an official language. A commemorative event is on at parliament this morning to mark the anniversary, where one of the speakers is Hana te Hemara's great niece, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.