Reikura Kahi appointed as new Te Mātāwai board member
Pānui Pāpāho
The co-chairs of Te Mātāwai Mereana Selby and Waihoroi Shortland today welcome Reikura Kahi (Tainui Waikato, Ngāti Porou) as the newest member to the Te Mātāwai Board.
Mrs Kahi is a crown-appointed representative, and was appointed by the Minister for Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta.
Te Mātāwai Hoa Toihau Waihoroi Shortland says “Reikura is one of the first generation of kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori and wharekura graduates in Aotearoa. Not only will she bring with her a wealth of knowledge regarding reo revitilization in communities, she is young, innovative and helping to normalise to reo in our modern society”
Mrs Kahi is an independent television and film producer in Māori theatre, radio, television and film, and a Māori language consultant. She is a Company Director of Wheke Group Ltd, a group established to nurture Māori and Pacific film talent.
Through her work Mrs Kahi has been successfully growing and maintaining te reo Māori in urban communities. She has worked with tamariki within a full immersion Māori language environment, and rangatahi within national kapa haka.
Kahi says “We’ve transitioned beyond acceptance into activation, beyond reclamation into new exploration and beyond the generic, into the heart of identity that is specific and unique to Māori. My role with Te Mātāwai is to help whanau realize their potential, and I look forward to ensuring they do”
The Te Ture o Te Reo Māori Act 2016 outlines the joint role of the Minister of Māori Development and Māori communities in appointing board members to Te Mātāwai.
Mrs Kahi has good governance experience, and over the last 14 years she has held a number of roles including Chair and member of Ngā Tūmanako Kapa Haka and Ngā Tūmanako Incorporated Society, and a member of Te Puna Reo o Manawanui and Manawanui Charitable Trust.
Mrs Kahi will begin her tenure from June for the duration of 3 years.
ENDS