Ka nui te whakamihi ki Te Huirangi Waikerepuru!

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Radio New Zealand

Taranaki reo expert Keri Opai says the significant honour given to the Ngati Ruanui kaumatua Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, reflects his tireless years of work advancing major Māori language initiatives.

The veteran language advocate has been recognised by winning the Taku Toa Takimano award for an individual’s contribution to te reo.

Mr Waikerepuru is singled out for his work leading to the passing of the Māori Language Act and his efforts to get the Crown to protect te reo as a taonga in broadcasting.

That ultimately led to the creation of Māori Television.

Mr Opai says, for the last three decades, the respected elder has been a pillar of strength for the Te Reo o Taranaki movement.

He says Mr Waikerepuru was pivotal when the movement first began in supporting the up-and-coming generations learn te reo at a time when many of the region’s native speakers were dying.

Mr Opai says Mr Waikerepuru has always been a staunch campaigner for the language, especially amongst the youth.

Te Huirangi Waikerepuru was given the award at the annual Māori Language Awards ceremony held in Rotorua on Friday.

Māori Language Commission

Media Release

Language Veteran Huirangi Waikerepuru Takes Top Honour at Māori Language Awards 2011

A veteran language advocate – Huirangi Waikerepuru; a small, low decile school in Gisborne – Kaiti School; a long standing national total immersion language course – Kura Reo; and an iwi, Te Reo o Taranaki, all took out the top awards at the Māori Language Awards, held in Rotorua this evening.

Huirangi Waikerepuru received the Taku Toa Takimano award, which recognises an individuals contribution to the language.

As the head of Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i te Reo Māori, he spearheaded two claims. The first was Te Reo Māori claim in the early eighties and focussed on the need for recognition of te reo Māori as an official language. The claim led to the passing of the Māori Language Act in 1987 and the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. From the late eighties through to 1993 Huirangi, again with Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau, worked with the NZ Māori Council on a Privy Council case, arguing that the government should recognise and protect Māori language as a taonga under Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the allocation of broadcasting assets. This later led to the establishment of the Māori broadcasting agency, Te Māngai Pāho and ultimately Māori Television.

“Huirangi is a passionate and humble man, whose contributions to language revitalisation will stand in our history as perhaps the most significant language achievements in the last forty years. We would have been remiss in not acknowledging his vision and leadership in that time, as such he is truly deserved of this honour” says CE, Glenis Philip-Barbara.