Hokahōkai ana ō waewae ki te pakirau o tēnei whare,
Awhe mai ana ki te hau kāinga,
Ki te pou herenga tangata, ki te pou herenga whenua, ki te pou whare kōrero
Ki te pae o Te Kooti e.
Pae Tukutuku Poutama
Kei a te Pae Tukutuku Poutama te haepapa ki te
rēhita i ngā taitara whenua, ki te pūmau anō hoki
ki te mana o te pūkete me te putunga, tae atu anō
hoki ki te pūnaha raraunga.
Only 17% of Māori knew how to speak te reo, only 5% of our children in schools could speak te reo, and furthermore, there were people of that time who declared there was no benefit in teaching te reo and no benefit in the continued survival of te reo Māori.