Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Rāwhiti appoints Mātai Smith to Te Mātāwai Board
Media release
Te Mātāwai Co-Chairs, Waihoroi Shortland and Mereana Selby, welcome the appointment of reo champion Matai Smith (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) to the Board of Te Mātāwai .
Mātai has served on Te Tai Rāwhiti Pae Motuhake over the past three years and was appointed to the Board of Te Mātāwai by Te Tai Rāwhiti in October 2019.
He has extensive experience working in broadcasting as an award winning presenter and producer, gracing our television screens for more than two decades. Mātai was a graduate from the first intake of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo and exhibits an unquestionable commitment to the revitalisation of te reo Māori through his work in the broadcasting industry.
Te Mātāwai Co-Chair Waihoroi Shortland says, “There is no doubting Mātais commitment to the revitalisation of te reo Māori. He has helped to pave the way for te reo Māori on our screen, capturing the attention and imagination of our young people”.
Mātai is the Station Manager for iwi radio station, Tūranga FM where he continues to ensure te reo Māori continues to grow and flourish in Gisborne. His leadership and governance experience has seen Mātai lead the genesis, development and fruition of both the Rongowhakaata and Ngāi Tāmanuhiri rautaki reo as well as sit on the governance boards of a whānau trust, Te Tira Whakaari and also acting as Deputy Chairman for Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori.
Mātai says, “It is a huge privilege for me to serve the people of Te Tai Rāwhiti on the Board of Te Mātāwai. I hope that I can contribute in a meaningful way to continue the good work Te Mātāwai has begun not only in Te Tai Rāwhiti but also around the motu”.
Te Mātāwai would like to thank outgoing board member, Tātere Jeremy Mcleod, for his hard-work and commitment during the past three years.
Te Mātāwai Co-Chair, Mereana Selby says, “We wish Tātere well in his future endeavours and thank him for helping to guide the Pae Motuhake of Te Tai Rāwhiti in their efforts to revitalise te reo Māori in their rohe”.
Mātai will attend his first Te Mātāwai board meeting in January 2020.
ENDS