Iwi leader calls for transparency for whanau

Awanui Black, a Tauranga Moana iwi leader, is calling on the National Kohanga Reo Trust and in particular the directors of its commercial arm Te Pataka Ohanga to be more transparent and bring this issue to a conclusion for the sake of all kohanga whanau.

“I’m putting my full support behind the kaupapa of kohanga reo and our whanau in Mataatua and Tauranga Moana who’ve been wanting some answers for a while now,” says Mr Black.

“I’m disappointed at the way my people have been treated – they shouldn’t have to beg for answers or run to the media to put the pressure on the powers that be to get answers.

"Don't get me wrong I am one hundred percent behind the kohanga reo kaupapa, and especially its founders and their inspirational leadership and efforts, I'm just voicing the concerns of the people.

“It is time for those at the table of the national trust and its subsidiary company to front up now with some answers because only then can we determine a new pathway forward for our children who are the key to the survival of our precious language.

“The kohanga reo kaupapa is a crucial key to this, and the sooner our whanau can get on with the work without this hanging over them, the better.”

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