Breadth of contribution from reo champion

Jeremy Tatere Mcleod ©Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori 2017

The award for Maori language champion of the year turned into a two-man race, with Jeremy Tatere McLeod heading off educationalist Paraone Gloyne for the accolade.

Maori Language Commission chief executive Ngahiwi Apanui says while the highlight of the night was the lifetime achievement award for University of Waikato professor and Te Panekiritanga co-founder Pou Temara, it was was great to see the younger generation putting in the effort.

He says the supreme award was always going to be betweeen Mr McLeod, Ngati Kahungunu Inc's head of reo and tikanga, and Paraone Gloyne from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, who came up with an initiative to get people speak only Maori for a day or more during the month of September with Te Mahuru Maori.

"That top award was always a tough decision for the judges but Tatere made it because of the breadth of his contribution and the sheer number of things he has been involved with, whereas Paraone's major contribution is viewed as being Mahuru Maori, even though he has been involved with the wananga and a lot of other things. They have both made an incredible contribution," Mr Apanui says.

Other awards included a special commendation for Breakfast TV host Jack Tame, and plaudit foir the use of macrons on the Stuff website.

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