28-05-2025
Reclaiming the language of ‘Māorification' from the gutter
Comment: Somewhere between the polar extremes of re-indigenisation not having gone nearly far enough and conspiracies of a 'Māori elite' preparing to take over, the dubious term Māorification has found a new niche.
Last month a primary teacher's disparaging social media use of the term, criticising a NZ Teaching Council submission opposing the Government's failed Treaty Principles Bill, resulted in threats of deregistration.
The context was that the council made a submission on the bill on behalf of teachers, but it did not represent her view. She was 'fed up with the indoctrination going on in the education sector. The Māorification of school life is going too far.'
