Attitudes of non-Maori New Zealanders towards the use of Maori in New Zealand English

As majority language speakers have an important impact on minority languages, the the attitudes and behaviours of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the Māori language are likely to have an influence on Māori language regeneration (de Bres 2008). Moreover, as the presence of Māori words is arguably the most distinctive feature of New Zealand English (Deverson 1991, Macalister 2005), these attitudes and behaviours are also likely to influence aspects of New Zealand English. Although there is now considerable research on attitudes towards the Māori language in New Zealand, there has been less research on attitudes towards the use of Māori in the context of New Zealand English in particular. This article reports on the results of research on the attitudes and behaviours of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the Māori language, focusing on two behaviours specifically relating to the use of Māori in New Zealand English, namely the use of Māori words and phrases and the pronunciation of Māori words. The results are considered from the dual perspective of what they tell us about the attitudes of non-Māori towards the Māori language in a context of language regeneration, and what they might imply for the future development of New Zealand English.