From individuals to communities, the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Language Awards 2013 held on 15th November in Gisborne acknowledged those who have shown commitment and dedication to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.

“The use of te reo Māori is essential to the health of the language. It is vital to incorporate it into our everyday lives so that it can grow and flourish,” says Te Taura

Whiri i te Reo Māori Chief Executive Glenis Philip-Barbara. “ The broad range of entrants in the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Language Awards 2013 is a welcome sign that te reo Māori is valued in all aspects of Aotearoa New Zealand society: from the kura to the corporate world, from individuals to organisations. The awards celebrate what is achievable with collective ambition.”

Speaking at the Awards dinner, the Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples reiterated the Government’s commitment to te reo Māori. He commended Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for promoting Māori names during Te Wiki o te Reo 2013 and congratulated the tamariki at Kaitī School who are lobbying to have ‘Poverty Bay’ changed back to ‘Tūranganui A Kiwa’. This is an aspiration he hoped to see supported by Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon, described by the Minister as “probably New Zealand’s only Māori speaking mayor”.

Dr Sharples announced Dr Te Wharehuia Milroy as the recipient of the Taku Toa Takimano – Māori Language Individual Award for 2013. This award recognises the efforts and commitment to te reo Māori and acknowledges that individual leadership plays a critical role in the development and endurance of language revitalisation. Dr Milroy is a staunch proponent of te reo Māori; as well as an esteemed academic career, he played a critical role in the creation of the first monolingual Māori dictionary, He Pātaka Kupu – te kai a te rangatira, launched in 2008 by Te Taura Whiri. He is now one of the principal tutors of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, an invitation - only course aimed at developing expert speakers of te reo Māori.

WINNERS FOR NGĀ TOHU REO MĀORI 2013

Award Category: Private Sector Winner: BNZ Sponsor: Human Rights Commission

Award Category: Community Winner: Raukawa Charitable Trust Sponsor: Māori Television

Award Category: Local Government Winner: Waikato Regional Council Sponsor: Gisborne Herald

Award Category: Government Winner: NZ Fire Service (Hastings) Sponsor: Te Puni Kōkiri

Award Category: IT and Telecommunications Winner: Tangata Whenua HD Sponsor: Microsoft

Award Category: Print Winner: Te Reo Singalong Sponsor: Eastern Community Trust

Award Category: Broadcasting – Māori Media Winner: Radio Ngāti Porou / Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of Excellence Sponsor: Te Māngai Pāho

Award Category: Tertiary Winner: Massey University Sponsor: Chen Palmer

Award Category: Education – Māori Medium Winner: Te Kōpae Piripono Sponsor: Ministry of Education

Award Category: Education – Open Winner: Thames South School Sponsor: Ministry of Education

Award Category: Māori Language Week - Inaugural Winner: NZ Fire Service (Palmerston North) Sponsor: Gisborne District Council

Award Category: Māori Language Week Winner: Auckland Transport Sponsor: Te Matatini

Award Category: Rangatahi Winner: Raniera Blake Sponsor: Tūranga Ararau

Award Category: Māori Language Supreme Award Winner: Radio Ngāti Porou / Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of Excellence Sponsor: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

Award Category: Māori Language Community Winner: Te Hui Ahurei o Tūhoe Sponsor: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

Award Category: Māori Language Individual Winner: Dr Te Wharehuia Milroy Sponsor: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

Credit: Image courtesy of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori