Here's a breakdown of the historical context:
* Colonial Policies: During the colonial era, the British government in New Zealand implemented policies aimed at assimilating Māori into European culture. These policies included:
* English-only education: Māori children were forced to attend schools where they were punished for speaking Māori and encouraged to speak only English.
* Land confiscation: Loss of land and resources contributed to a decline in Māori economic and social power, further impacting the use of Māori language.
* Cultural suppression: Māori cultural practices and traditions were actively discouraged and sometimes banned. This contributed to a sense of shame surrounding Māori identity and language.
* Internalized oppression: The legacy of these policies led to many Māori people believing that Māori language was inferior to English. This internalized oppression further contributed to a decline in language use.
* The 20th Century: Throughout the 20th century, there was a growing movement among Māori people to revitalize their language and culture. This movement gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s.
* The Māori Language Act 1987: This landmark legislation officially recognized Māori as an official language of New Zealand alongside English. It also established the Māori Language Commission to promote and support the use of Māori language.
In conclusion:
While there were no laws explicitly banning the use of Māori, the policies and attitudes of the colonial era effectively created an environment where Māori language was discouraged and suppressed. However, thanks to the resilience and advocacy of Māori people, the language is now experiencing a revival and is recognized as an official language of New Zealand.