What, then, would the proposal change?
“Nothing,” says Andrew Geddis, a professor of law at the University of Otago.
Legislation is intended to solve problems, he says. “What is the social problem here that requires a solution? English is already an official language. It can be used in all public settings.”
Geddis refers to the policy as “virtue signalling”: “There seem to be some people out there who fear English is under threat and is somehow going to be overtaken in New Zealand. This [policy] seems to be a way to try to respond to that fear.”
What an incredibly dumb take.
Do you really think the token amount of Te Reo used by government departments does anything useful? If I wanted to learn the language, I would.
Yes, I absolutely do. You clearly don’t understand what it is like to have a language suppressed.
Using it in official settings, even if a “token amount” normalizes it and integrates the use of Te Reo into everyday society, something which should have already happened. Remember, we all only speak English because of oppression and suppression of Maori culture and language historically. The fact that we are starting to treat it equally to English is a good thing, shows respect and understanding and an attempt to course correct the historical trend, and bring the language back to where it should be.
You do understand that New Zealand is considered one of the best for integrating indigenous culture into mainstream society around the world, right? This is a good thing.