Naylor Jono: Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 09 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9580. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National): Tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakawā ā huri noa i Te Whare nei tēnā tātou katoa.[Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker and acknowledgments to us all throughout this House.]I just purposefully asked my colleague to step aside for a second because I just came down to the House to find somebody realised that this was the conversation that was going on and wanted to participate. I think this is a vitally important bill for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Reo Māori has been in the back seatfor too long being ignored by many people—and I guess too many people—for such a long time.My journey with Te Reo Māori started when I was at intermediate school. It did not start at primary school because no one ever spoke it but at Hiona Intermediate School in Masterton I was one of the two skinny white boys who were a part of what was known as the Māori Club because that is what it was called back in 1978. We learnt a few tunes and a few dances and a few whatevers and it was kind of a fun thing to be a part of.But actually as I grew older I realised that this language was an important thing so I disciplined myself along the way by practising looking at road signs as I went past and practising and teaching myself with the “AEIOU” wondering how this word would be pronounced in order for me to be able to at least pronounce Te Reo Māori as well as I possibly could—because I felt that was the least that I could do. Then when I was doing my social work degree I had the opportunity to study Te Reo Māori for 1 year. The frustrating thing about that is that I do not remember everything I learnt and so there are a lot of things to go back and relearn.A couple of years ago my wife came home one day and said: “You know what? I think I’d like to learn some Te Reo Māori.” She said this to my daughter who had been going out with someone who is now her husband. She had been going out with him for about a month or so. My wife said “You know I’m thinking of learning Te Reo Māori.” and my daughter turned around and said to her “Well you’d better Mum because your mokos are going to speak it.” which was a little bit frightening. But it is OK. She married him and I have no doubt that my mokos—my grandchildren—will grow up to be bilingual because that is important to their father and actually it is going to be important to their mother and it is going to be important to me. Not that there is any hurry if you are listening guys! They have been married for only a year. But it is going to be important and suddenly this language is going to be a part of our family. So I think it is beholden on many of us to be able to do that.I guess what I want to say is that this bill is really important. It is really important for what is contained in it but it is really important for the message that it sends to everybody in Aotearoa New Zealand: that Te Reo Māori is an important part of who we are as a nation. It is a treasure for us to make sure that we continue with going forward.I want to acknowledge the Minister for Māori Development for the great work that he has done with this bill and I want to acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee for bringing it to this House. This is an important thing. It is an important thing for all of Aotearoa New Zealand and I consider it a great privilege to be a part of this Parliament in bringing it forward. I look forward to seeing it progress through further stages in the House.