AUCKLAND: Patrick Tangaere is raising awareness of the official status of Maori language in New Zealand after he was questioned over a check he had written in Maori language to McDonalds's Family restaurant. Principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tapere-Nui-A-Whatonga school, Tangaere had written a check to the restaurant for a school trip lunch in Maori, which is recognized as a legal tender. However Tangaere says this was the first time he has been questioned for writing checks in Maori. “It is a legal right I have practised for as long as I can remember. I have never before been made to feel inferior for it until this week,” said Tangaere. Being the principal of a Maori language immersion school (Kura Kaupapa Maori) where one of main aims of the school is to revitalize Maori language, Tangaere is determined to inform people about writing checks in Maori. “It is about everybody needing to know. Our language is official and it is legal,” said Tangaere. Maori is an official language of New Zealand and checks written in Maori are accepted by banks and so should also be done so by businesses. Gisborne Lawyer Allan Hall says “It is good for people in business to know this.” The owner of the McDonald's Family Restaurant, Leah Hepi said she wanted to make sure the check was accepted by the bank. “The bank said a check written in Maori was OK and we accepted it,” Hepi told The Gisborne Herald. “But I had to make sure. I needed to know for myself because I have never struck this before. I have learnt something new,” said Hepi. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/4oc11 Tags: Checks, Language, Maori, New Zealand Section: Oceana
