I Will Not Speak Māori card

In 2022, activist and artist Tāme Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe, Waikato, Te Arawa) staged a provocative multi-media installation and performance 'I Will Not Speak Māori' in Wellington. It told his story of te reo Māori – from a boy in the 1950s–60s punished for speaking te reo in school; to a young activist in Ngā Tamatoa whose members fought for the language and land rights; to an artist, performer and kaumātua (elder).

I Will Not Speak Māori marked the 50th anniversary of Te Petihana Te Reo Māori which was delivered to Parliament on 14 September 1972. The Māori language petition was organised by Ngā Tamatoa and Te Reo Māori Society, with help from Te Huinga Rangatahi, the New Zealand Māori Students’ Association to gather the signatures. The petition called for te reo Māori to be taught in all schools. Tāme Iti helped deliver the petition in 1972.

The 'I Will Speak Māori' pin is a declaration of intent for all who wear it, and it speaks back to the negative lines Iti was forced to write at school when the education system was dominated by English. The design of the pin evokes school title bars.