Page Type: languageCook Islands Maori | Ethnologue

RAR ISO 639-3

Cook Islands Maori

Te Reo Maori Autonym

A language of Cook Islands

ISO 639
rar
Alternate Names
Cook Island, Kuki Airani, Māori Kūki ’Āirani, Maori, Rarotongan
Autonym
Te Reo Maori
Population
13,100 in Cook Islands (2011 census), decreasing. 2,035 Aitutaki, 481 Atiu, 573 Mangaia, 307 Mauke, 189 Mitiaro (2011 census). Speaker numbers rapidly decreasing, especially in the diaspora (Wurm 2007). Total users in all countries: 27,200.
Location:
Widespread.
Language Status
6b* (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1965, Constitution, Article 35), limited use in higher government domains.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Dialects
Mitiaro, Mauke, Atiu, Mangaia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki. Lexical similarity: 83% with Tuamotuan [pmt], 79% with Hawaiian [haw], 75% with Mangareva [mrv], 73% with Marquesan [mrq].
Language Use
English [eng] preferred by the younger generation (Wurm 2007). Used as L2 by Penrhyn [pnh], Pukapuka [pkp].
Language Development
Bible: 1851–1888.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cook Islands Maori
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Cook Islands Maori
User Population
5,110 in Australia (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Rarotongan
User Population
8,120 in New Zealand (2013 census). Ethnic population: 61,000 (2013 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of New Zealand

Map

Location: Widespread.