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That ‘kia ora’ you hear anywhere in the world when you board an Air New Zealand flight has earned the national airline the supreme award at this year’s Maori Language Awards.
Maori Language Commission chair Wayne Ngata says the airline has made a sustained effort over the past decade to increase its use of te reo and integrate Maori values into its interactions with customers.
He says it sets an example for other organisations.
The award ceremony was held in New Plymouth, meaning there was a big home town cheer for the winner of the lifetime achievement award, Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru, who has been working to revitalise te reo Maori and the Taranaki dialect since the 1970s.
Another Taranaki institution, the Patea Maori Club, won the arts and entertainment award.
Radio New Zealand won the broadcasting and media tohu.
A Tirau kaumatua class was judged best community initiative, while Raewyn Harrison’s Te Reo Tuatahi was the best example in English medium education.
Aaron Koopu was this year’s youth champion, and Kiwa Digital took the digital innovation tohu.
Maori Television was this year’s Maori Language Week champion, and there was special commendation for Stacey Morrison.
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