Nanaia Mahuta appoints Reikura Kahi to Board of Te Mātāwai

“Reikura Kahi is one of the first generation kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and whare kura graduates,” says Minister Mahuta.

Māori Development Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta has appointed Reikura Kahi (Waikato, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Kuki Airini), to the Board of Te Mātāwai for a three-year term.

"Reikura Kahi is one of the first generation kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and whare kura graduates," says Minister Mahuta. "She will bring that unique rangatahi perspective to the Board.

"She also brings extensive governance experience including Chair and member of Ngā Tūmanako Kapa haka and Ngā Tūmanako Incorporated Society and been a member of Te Puna Reo o Manawanui and Manawanui Charitable Trust.

"Reikura Kahi is a Māori language consultant, a graduate of Te Panekiritanga o te Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Auckland University," said Nanaia Mahuta

The Minister says Reikura Kahi's work experience includes Programme Commissioner at Māori Television where she ensured programmes aligned with language strategies and maintained the quantity and quality of te reo within the programmes. She was also an assessor for Te Māngai Pāho and company director for Te Wheke Group, which nurtured Māori and Pacific film talent.

Te Mātāwai is an independent statutory entity that provides leadership on behalf of iwi and Māori in their role as kaitiaki of the Māori language. The Crown, through Te Mātāwai, develops Māori language strategies, among other things, to support the revitalisation of te reo.

(With Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)