14 Sep 2022

50th anniversary celebration of Māori language petition

From Midday Report, 12:12 pm on 14 September 2022

Māni Dunlop presents live from parliament's forecourt in a special edition of Midday Report commemorating 50 years since the Māori language petition was delivered to Parliament.

That petition - signed by 33,000 people - catalysed the revival of te reo Māori, kickstarting several movements in the 1970s and '80s, knocking New Zealand out of its stupor about the state of race relations. 

Māni Dunlop brings you the event - as well as interviews with: the Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson who is also the nephew of Hana Te Hemara who led the petition on this day 50 years ago; the Māori language commissioner Professor Rawinia Higgins; the Reo Māori society president in 1972 Thomas Rangihuna no Te Tairāwhiti.