February 10, 2015
Mahuika early advocate for change
Rangatira throughout the motu are on their way to Tikitiki to pay tribute to the late Apirana Mahuika, who died on Monday at the age of 80.
Ngai Tahu leader Sir Tipene O’Regan will carry memories going back to the 1960s where they were part of a small group that revived the Victoria University Maori Graduates Association.
It became a political ginger group that was able to make its mark on policy, particularly with the Kirk Labour Government’s education minister Phil Amos.
"We managed to get Grey's education ordinance reversed which made te reo Maori legal in the schools or stopped it being illegal. All those sort of seminal movements that we were involved in, Api was the coordinator, the driver, the convenor and the leading figure amongst us, always backed up by his colleague Koro Dewes," Sir Tipene says.
He says Apirana Mahuika saw everything through the prism of Ngati Porou, and was deeply concerned about its leadership, unity and economy.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SIR TIPENE O'REGAN CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjYyMDQ=
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