Alternate Names: New Zealand Maori
Dialects: Bay of Plenty, Moriori, North Auckland, Rotorua-Taupo, South Island, Taranaki, Wanganui. Formerly fragmented into regional dialects, some of which diverged quite radically from what became the standard dialect. Lexical similarity: 71% with Hawaiian ,, 57% with Samoan ,.
Status Notes: Statutory language of national identity (1987, Maori Language Act, No. 176, Article 3), legal domains mostly.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 148,000 in New Zealand (2013 census). 100,000 understand but do not speak it (1995 Maori Language Commission); 30,000–50,000 adult speakers over 15 years old (1995). Population total all countries: 148,660. Ethnic population: 599,000 (2013 census).
Language Use: Until 20th century, Maori was spoken throughout New Zealand. There is a recent reluctance of the young generation to use Maori (Wurm 2007). Mainly adult speakers. 100% also use English [eng].
Language Development: 322 government-funded Maori language schools, including preschool. New media. Grammar. Bible: 1858–1952.
Typology: VSO.
Spoken In: New Zealand
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: New Zealand
Other Comments: Moriori dialect in Chatham Islands has no remaining speakers. Christian.