The newest member of Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori Language Commission – actor Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand says, as a pākeha, she thought long and hard before accepting the role.
Ward-Lealand says she’s been on her te reo journey for more than 15 years.
Her name Te Atamira – meaning the performance stage – was given to her by Sir Timoti Karetu and the late Wharehuia Milroy – who both saw in her the hope for a future bilingual nation.
“That gives me, perhaps if there’s some blowback on this, that will give me the strength to go ‘okay well I’m here for a purpose.’ It’s a 3-year term, and I hope that I can make a contribution – and stand on the shoulders of those who have been doing this for decades,” she says.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand says she has extensive governance experience to offer the commission, and she is also in a position to promote te reo as widely as possible to all New Zealanders.
Another commission member, Jeremy Tātere MacLeod, was reappointed for a further three year term.
