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July 08, 2016
Cathy Dewes on Te Wahanga Parakuihi with Dale Husband
Waatea Team
Posted On July 8, 2016
Cathy Dewes on Te Wahanga Parakuihi with Dale Husband
Te reo Māori advocate and school principal, Cathy Dewes will represent Te Arawa on the new language revitalisation board, Te Mātāwai.
Long-time advocate of te reo Māori and Rotorua school principal, Cathy Dewes has been chosen as the Te Arawa representative for Te Mātāwai, the new group to lead the revitalisation of the language on behalf of iwi and Māori.
Seventeen iwi throughout Te Arawa voted with the decision announced last night. She was chosen ahead of nominees and strong te reo advocates, Te Waata Cribb and Anaha Hiini.
Ms Dewes is the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata and a former chairwoman of chairwoman of Te Runanganui o Kura Kaupapa Māori, the national body for kura kaupapa Māori.
She was part of the group who began Maori Language Day in 1975, which later became Māori Language Week. She also has been awarded the ONZM (Officer of the Order) for services to Māori, and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato for her work on te reo Māori.
Te Mātāwai is a new organisation established under Te Ture mō te Reo Māori 2016 (The Māori Language Act 2016) to provide iwi input into Maori language strategy. There will be 13 members on the board: seven from iwi, four from Maori language stakeholder organisations, and two chosen by the Māori Development Minister, Te Ururoa Flavell.
Joining Ms Dewes, is television presenter, Scotty Morrison of Ngati Whākaue. He was appointed this week as the Iwi Radio, Nga Aho Whakaari representative following the nomination from Te Arawa FM.
Willie Jackson, chairman of Māori radio network, Te Whakaruruhau O Nga Reo Irirangi Maori said in statement that Mr Morrison was an outstanding young leader for te reo Māori in this country.
“He has been with Radio Waatea for 12 years and worked on Ruia Mai previously to that. As well, he fronts the most high profile Māori language programme in the country, Te Karere every day. He is committed to Māori language revitalisation and recently won the top award at the Māori Television Matariki Awards for Te Reo Māori and Tikanga.”
Others to have joined the board so far were Mr Jackson (Te Reo Tukutuku – Urban), Jeremy Tātere MacLeod (Te Tai Rāwhiti), and Bentham Ohia (Mātaatua).
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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