January 13, 2021
Wharekura graduates making their mark
The new co-chair of Te Mātāwai wants to increase the visibility of the Māori language promotion body so more organisations come to it for support and funding.
Television and film producer Reikura Kahi is one of a new generation of speakers, having been one of the first group of tamariki to go through kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa at Hoani Waititi Marae in west Auckland.
She’s impressed with the growing strength of te reo Māori in many regions, with parts of Mataatua and Kahungunu leading the way.
Much of the growth is coming from those who have come through Māori immersion schooling and have gone back into kōhanga reo or kura to teach, or just as importantly, are raising their families in Māori-speaking households.
She says Te Mātāwai has funding for programmes and resources to promote te reo Māori, but it isn’t as well known as agencies like Te Taurā Whiri, which coordinates the crown response, and Te Māngai Pāho, the Māori broadcast funding agency.
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