Te Puni Kōkiri welcomes Glenis Philip-Barbara as the new Chief Executive Officer of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.

A vision of restoring te reo Māori as the language of communication in Māori homes has taken Glenis Philip-Barbara to the capital to lead Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission).

“I applied for the role because I was excited by the Commission’s commitment to maintaining te reo as the language parents use to communicate with their kids. Which is what I am both personally and professionally passionate about and committed to,” said Ms Philip Barbara.

Ms Philip-Barbara left her role as Director of Business Development at the Tairāwhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne to take up her role in Wellington.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori’s chairperson Erima Henare said the Ngāti Porou academic brought a mix of management, research and kaupapa Māori experience to the commission.

Ms Philip-Barbara said she believes te reo Māori is the birthright of every Māori and should be accessible to everyone who called Aotearoa home.

Thanks to Stan Pardoe and Rongowhakaata Trust for photograph permission.