Motorists and pedestrians could soon see more te reo Māori on traffic signs across the country.
A package of proposed bilingual signs has been released for consultation by Waka Kotahi and Te Mātāwai – an entity established in 2016 by the Māori Language Act for the purpose of Māori language revitalisation.
The consultation is part of the He Tohu Huarahi Māori bilingual traffic signs programme led by Te Mātāwai and Waka Kotahi.
Te Mātāwai Board co-chair Reikura Kahi says using te reo Māori on traffic signs will help the language become more visible in the community.
“Affirming the status of te reo and enabling community engagement are critical drivers of language revitalisation so we celebrate this moment,” Kahi says.
“Bilingual signage is an important step towards affirming the indigenous status of te reo Māori in Aotearoa.
“Increasing awareness and access to te reo Māori in our communities and cities is also a launchpad from which new iwi language initiatives targeting new generations can grow together.”
The proposals cover 94 signs and are grouped by type:
- Destination signs
- Public and active transport signs
- Walking and cycling wayfinding signs
- General advisory and permanent warning signs
- Motorway and expressway advisory signs
- Temporary warning signs.
A panel of te reo Māori experts, Te Pae Whakamāori, was established to consider and propose translations for the package of signs.
Waka Kotahi land transport director Kane Patena says the proposed package has sought and incorporated the views of specialists in te reo Māori, local government, safety and roading,
“We also looked at bilingual signage in other countries and found that good design mitigates safety risks.”
Waka Kotahi senior manager Māori, Nicholas Manukau, says the language is a living taonga for all New Zealanders regardless of one’s background.
“It is a part of who we are, and what it is to be a Kiwi.”
The consultation follows the successful rule change last year to enable bilingual Kura School traffic signs.
The rollout of the package will begin with signs that need to be replaced, particularly in hard-hit regions where signs were damaged during the recent cyclone and where new signs are needed.
Waka Kotahi says this also reflects its “low-cost implementation approach” for bilingual signs, which will be introduced as existing signs are replaced or new signs are needed on the network.
Waka Kotahi says it has undertaken research to identify international precedents and to examine the safety implications of bilingual signage.
It says many countries use bilingual signage, and research demonstrates that bilingual signs have not led to an increase in the number of people who have been killed or seriously injured where this has been measured (for example in Scotland and Wales).
*Consultation on the proposed package closes at 5pm, June 30. Click here for more information.
