New Commissioners to help lead language direction

New Commissioners to help lead language direction

Te reo Maori gets an injection today as new Maori Language Commissioners take office and the Government's new Maori Language Strategy is released.

"The new Commissioners bring a wealth of sought after Maori language experience. We will be able to draw on this to improve the status and strength of te reo Maori for all New Zealanders," says Maori Language Commission Chief Executive Haami Piripi.

"At the same time as being jubilant about this new era, we are also sad to be losing the expertise of our savvy Commissioner Quinton Hita and community language leader Waereti Tait-Rolleston. We are still to fully recover from the loss of Miria Simpson renowned for her high standards and insistence on excellence in relation to te reo Maori and English.

"We are pleased that Dr Patu Hohepa has been reappointed as chair of the Commission as his knowledge will ensure continuity in the changeover.

"Each of the new Commissioners, Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Ruakere Hond, Hana O'Regan and Wayne Ngata are key figures in language revitalisation. They have been involved in setting strategic direction for language at a range of levels.

"It is timely that their appointment has coincided with the release of the new language strategy as we see them as playing a major role in achieving its goals."

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