KUCHING: New Zealand and Sarawak can share information and knowledge to further explore the relationship between Maoris and Sarawakians, said New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia David Pine.
“We have been exploring the relationship between the people of Maori and this region as well as on how education can be used to enhance Maori culture and the language.
“This is an area we can work together because we have information and knowledge to share with each other,” he told journalists after paying a courtesy call on Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah at the latter’s office at Bangunan Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
Pine pointed out the word ‘makan’ had become ‘makai’ in Sarawak while the word for food in Maori is ‘kai’.
“Somewhere, the ‘ma’ just dropped off. Likewise ‘minum’, for drinking, in Maori ‘inu’, the two m’s just fell off. We do not know what happened or that they got lost in the Pacific.
“So we are going to explore further. This year is the third year we have the New Zealand Week and we would like to come back again next year.”
He was pleased to note the Borneo Post International Education Fair “seems to be getting stronger each year” while adding the platform would serve as a “great anchor” for the commission and New Zealand Week.
“We would like to make sure we come into the New Zealand Week together with BPIEF and the two grow stronger together in partnership.”
On the meeting, Pine said “we had a wonderful discussion and the next step is for the minister to come down (to New Zealand) and we very much look forward to welcoming you.”