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A new broom could be sweeping through kohanga reo.
A national hui at Turangawaewae Marae over the weekend appointed a working party to consider changes to the 32-year-old movement.
The hui was held against a background of government ministers putting pressue on the Kohanga Reo National Trust Board over its governance structures and its management of funds for Maori immersion early childhood education.
King Tuheitia told the hui he would ask the Government for more time to allow kohanga reo whanau to chart their own future.
The seven-member working party will visit kohanga reo around the country to provide more information and to collect the movement’s views.
It will report to the trust before another hui at Turangawaewae in December.
Members include the king’s nominee Dr Tania Simpson, a professional director, and educationalist Dr Kathie Irwin who was nominated by the Kohanga Reo National Trust.
Sir Toby Curtis was picked to represent kaumatua, and the hui also chose Dr Kathie Dewes from Te Arawa and Ngati Porou , Ruka Broughton from Taranaki, Dr Rawinia Higgins from Ngai Tuhoe, and youth representative Ropata Hepi from Ngati Kahungunu.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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