Joint Supreme winners - Māori Language Awards 2010

10 October 2010

Media Release

Joint Supreme winners at Māori Language Awards 2010

The winners of the Māori Language Awards 2010 were announced last night at Huia Te Reo - the annual two day Māori language expo event held by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission), which has now concluded at the Rotorua Energy and Events Centre.

Raukawa Charitable Trust from Tokoroa and Massey University were joint Supreme award winners receiving Te Tohu Huia Te Reo for 2010.

“This is the third time that Raukawa Charitable Trust has won the Supreme award, which is testament to the enduring commitment they have to revitalising thelanguage. Their leadership in this area is exemplary and we are happy to continue acknowledging their efforts”, says Chief Executive, Glenis Philip-Barbara.

“Massey University impressed the judges with their innovative yet simple concept of promoting the language through the purchase of coffee. Sometimes it’s the simplicity and ease of an idea that cuts through and makes the most impact. Massey University’s ‘hoko kawhe’ is an example of this clear cut and inspirational kind of thinking”, says Glenis Philip-Barbara.

Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira, co-founder of the Te Ataarangi programme which has been responsible for creating many successful adult language speakers, is the winner of the Taku Toa Takimano award, given in recognition of an individual’s efforts to the language.

“There is no denying the significant contribution that Kāterina has made to the revitalisation of the language over the last twenty to thirty years. As a teacher, an author, and language leader, she is the personification of language excellence and passion. It’s fitting therefore for her to be honoured in this way”, says Glenis Philip-Barbara.

Whakatupuranga Rua Mano – a 25-year tri-partite iwi development strategy between Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa ki-te-Tonga and Ngāti Toarangatira received Te Tira Aumangea award, given to a group or organisation in recognition of their efforts towards language revitalisation.

“The need to plan for the language cannot be understated. At Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori we believe planning and foresight is at the heart of successful and well coordinated initiatives. We also believe that Whakatupuranga Rua Mano is perhaps the only example of an iwi based strategy that has been successfully implemented in terms of not only creating wider welfare and development for their respective iwi, but also in terms of regenerating language speakers. It has long stood as an exemplar for other iwi, hapū, whānau and community groups, and like Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira, overdue in terms of national recognition,” says Glenis Philip-Barbara.

Other category winners include:
Private Sector: Te Kōtuku Rerenga Tahi (Gisborne); Community: Raukawa Charitable Trust (Tokoroa); Local Government: Auckland City Council; Government: Inland Revenue Department; Broadcasting – Mainstream: TVNZ; Broadcasting – Māori Media: Tūranga FM (Gisborne); Print: The Gisborne Herald; IT and Telecommunications: Awawhenua Ltd (Rotorua); Education – Mainstream: Kaiti Primary School (Gisborne); Education – Māori Medium: Petone Central School (Lower Hutt); Tertiary: Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology; Māori Language Week: Inland Revenue Department and Massey University.

ENDS

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