The state of te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani in Aotearoa

Cook Islanders have long played an important role in shaping Aotearoa's Pacific communities, bringing rich culture, language and traditions that continue to thrive across generations.

A new snapshot from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples highlights one area where the community is facing a growing challenge, the use of te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani.

The report shows the proportion of Cook Islands Māori language speakers has steadily declined over the past two decades.

In 2001, 19 percent of the Cook Islands population living in New Zealand spoke te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani. By 2006 this had fallen to 17 percent, before dropping to 13 percent in 2013, 9 percent in 2018 and just 8 percent in 2023.

The trend is also reflected across where people were born.

Among Cook Islanders born in New Zealand, the proportion of speakers fell from 5 percent in 2001 to 3 percent in 2023.

For those born overseas, language use also declined, dropping from 47 percent in 2001 to 37 percent in 2023.

Perhaps the biggest concern is among younger generations.

The snapshot shows just 4 percent of Cook Islanders aged 15 to 29 could speak te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani in 2023, compared with 14 percent in 2001.

While language use has declined across all age groups, the report notes the drop is particularly significant among people under 30, highlighting the importance of passing the language on to future generations.

The decline can also be seen across every region of New Zealand.

In the Northern region, the proportion of speakers fell from 21 percent in 2001 to 10 percent in 2023.

The Mid-Northern region dropped from 14 percent to 5 percent, while the Central region declined from 14 percent to 6 percent.

In the Southern region, the proportion of speakers decreased from 16 percent in 2001 to 8 percent in 2023.

Despite the overall decline, the Northern region continues to have the highest proportion of Cook Islands Māori speakers in the country.

The findings paint a picture of a language under pressure, particularly among younger generations and New Zealand-born Cook Islanders.

As Cook Islands communities continue celebrating their identity through dance, music, arts and cultural traditions, the snapshot also serves as a reminder that protecting and revitalising te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani will play an important role in ensuring future generations remain connected to their heritage.

Source: Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani Snapshot Report.