Māori Language Petition quick facts
Find out quick facts about the Māori Language Petition (Te Petihana Reo Māori) including what it is, who created it and why.
What is the Māori Language Petition
Te Petihana Reo Māori — known in English as the Māori Language Petition — is a petition that was presented to Parliament in 1972 that called for courses in Māori language and culture to be offered in all New Zealand schools.
When the Māori Language Petition happened
The Māori Language Petition was initiated in 1972. The Petition was delivered to Parliament on 14 September 1972.
Who created the Māori Language Petition
The Māori Language Petition was instigated by Hana Jackson (née Te Hemara) of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāi Tahu.
Jackson was a member of the activist group Ngā Tamatoa. The group worked with Te Reo Māori Society and Te Huinga Rangatahi, the New Zealand Māori Students’ Association to gather signatures and deliver the petition to Parliament.
Why the Māori Language Petition was created
The Māori language petition was created because many feared te reo Māori was dying out. Many Māori leaders recognised there was a real risk of losing the language.
In the 1970s several groups formed, taking action to combat this threat and other political issues impacting Māori.
Who signed the Māori Language Petition
The Māori Language Petition was signed by over 30,000 people. Most of the people who signed the petition were not Māori.
View the Māori Language Petition original documents
The Māori Language Petition is made up of around 1,500 sheets of signatures. Each sheet has been digitised and available for you and future generations to view online via Collections search.
View the Māori Language Petition on Collections search
Where the Māori Language Petition can be found now
As part of our role as guardian of over 7 million records created by the government and public institutions of Aotearoa New Zealand, we work to preserve and protect the original Māori Language Petition and documents related to the petition. We also have the full file of submissions that captured the over 300,000 signatures that make up the submission.
View the submissions regarding Māori Language Petition on Collections search
Find out more about Te Petihana Reo Māori | The Māori language petition