'People have stopped using it': Culture secretary warns of complacency toward Cook Islands Māori

'People have stopped using it': Culture secretary warns of complacency toward Cook Islands Māori

The Cook Islands' culture secretary warns that Cook Islanders are becoming complacent about the use of their language and need to "wake up and appreciate" its importance.

‘People have stopped using it’: Culture secretary warns of complacency over Cook Islands Māori

By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Rarotonga The Cook Islands Secretary of Culture Emile Kairua says people in his country are getting complacent about the use of Māori. Cook Islands Māori Language Week started on Sunday in New Zealand and will run until Saturday. Kairua said the language is at risk at the source. READ MORE: Other Cook islands reports “Here in the homeland, we’re complacent,” he told RNZ Pacific. “People have stop…