13 Jun 2014

Tribe strikes Te Reo deal

7:56 am on 13 June 2014

A tribal grouping is striking a deal with Work and Income for descendants to be signed up to Maori language lessons.

The agreement will be part of the Treaty of Waitangi settlement for the Hawke's Bay collective of iwi and hapu, Heretaunga-Tamatea.

The cluster will team up with Work and Income East Coast Regional Office and tertiary providers to ensure job seekers get the opportunity to do Te Reo classes.

David Tipene-Leach, chair of tribal negotiating body He Toa Takitini, said his people wanted Te Reo Maori to become more commonplace and attractive to employers.

He said the scheme would boost job seekers' confidence and give them useful social skills.

The initiative will be developed with the Ministry of Social Development.