AKA’UPOKOTUANGA O TE AU MAPU I TE REO MĀORI: Learnings from Cook Islands communities and their youth

Abstract

Both in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, the decline of the Cook Islands Māori language has been a topic of major concern. In New Zealand alone, the number of Cook Islands speakers has had a steady decrease, which has affected Cook Islands youth in terms of language preservation, cultural and ethnic identity, and wellbeing. Language initiatives, whether it be at a government level or community level, have been put in place to address these concerns but despite this, from 2001 to 2018, the Cook Islands Māori language has declined from 9,732 to 7,833 (Statistics New Zealand, 2018). The purpose of this study was to examine the Cook Islands Māori language in New Zealand by exploring Cook Islands communities and identifying the role they play in the development of language learning for Cook Islands youth. In addition, the aim was to gather youth perceptions on the language and their thoughts on the role of community groups in language maintenance within the Cook Islands community in New Zealand. This qualitative study consisted of an online questionnaire that attracted 37 participants and four community focus groups consisting of 20 participants. The focus groups were separated into youth focus groups (16 – 24 years) and community focus groups (25 years and over). In the focus groups, youth participants discussed the significance of the Cook Islands Māori language in terms of strong family connections and relationships with parents and grandparents. They claimed that the language also connected them to their Cook Islands heritage and supported them in terms of their cultural and ethnic identity. Community group participants acknowledged their role, stating that although they understood their responsibility in the language learning space, they needed support to develop the language leaders that Cook Islands youth need to guide them with their language learning. Recommendations from this research provides strategies for supporting Cook Islands youth and Cook Islands communities regarding the language and will benefit other Pacific and indigenous groups that may be facing the same concerns.