November 11, 2016
Tu Mai Taranaki
There’s a Taranaki flavour to tonight’s Maori language awards.
It’s not just that the event is being held in New Plymouth, or that the Patea Maori club has made the finals on the back of a hugely popular film about its activities.
Tamaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare says it’s a chance to celebrate the way Te Reo o Taranaki has revived the language in the area, and also to acknowledge the lifetime achievement of Huirangi Waikerepuru, the lead claimant for the Maori language claim.
"Anybody who is familiar with him knows the great work he has done for te reo Maori, for the people of Taranaki and for the people of the country so it is an opportunity to congratulate those champions for te reo Maori who have worked hard to bring it back from the brink and certainly Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru is one of those people and deserves every accolade he can get," Mr Henare says.
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