Talking the Talk: Is it time for a Christchurch Language Policy?

A review of Professor Joseph Lo Bianco’s visit to New Zealand

By Daryl Streat – Lincoln University

Christchurch, in more ways than one, is a city with a changing face. While the city is the process of physically transforming its buildings and scenery, the more significant change is in fact occurring amongst its residents. From 2001 to 2013, Christchurch became a much more diverse city. What’s more, there are high levels of diversity at young ages. In 2013, it was reported that almost 40% of 0 to 4-year-olds identified as non-European. The earthquake rebuild has only increased the speed of this diversification.

The has made Christchurch a much more vibrant city, with a strong mix of cultures and languages encountered daily. If significant action is not taken to maintain this diversity (and especially language) then we risk losing some of what this great city has become.

A suitable language policy, to sit alongside our new Multi-Cultural strategy, would be a significant step in the right direction. A robust language policy would not only re-affirm the importance of te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), but would go a long way to ensure adequate ESOL provision for new arrivals and help maintain minority languages within the community.

Language policy in New Zealand

Of course, this has been attempted before. The Ministry of Education authored Aoteareo: Speaking for Ourselves, as a step towards a national language policy. But that was 26 years ago! Professor Joseph Lo Bianco’s visit to New Zealand served to spark discussion around the need for a coherent language policy to support all languages, both nationally and in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.

Professor Joseph Lo Bianco

Professor Joseph Lo Bianco, University of Melbourne, is a leading expert in national language planning. He helped author Australia’s multilingual national language policy and has developed language policies for a range of countries.

On August 23^rd, Professor Bianco spoke at Auckland University of Technology on the importance of a national language policy for New Zealand.  This presentation was part of a series of talks sponsored by AUT, TESOLANZ, Asia New Zealand Foundation, COMET Auckland, NZALT, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Professor Bianco showed how language policy development is a multi-faceted problem as planners must deal with a wide range of views.

Professor Bianco pointed out how language is a cultural, community, and educational resource. This resource serves all parts of the community. However, without adequate support, languages can disappear, or never develop in the first place.

What next?

Language policy in Ōtautahi, Christchurch must reflect our city. Not only must a policy affirm a place of importance for te reo Māori, and NZSL, but Christchurch must foster the conditions under which the languages of our newest residents can be protected. And finally, as stated in Languages in Aotearoa New Zealand (the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2013), we must ensure equitable access to ESOL.

If a multi-cultural, integrated society is something that the Christchurch City Council (CCC) wants to bring to fruition, then the CCC must take the language question seriously. For where language is not fostered and protected, culture struggles to survive.