Te Mātāwai welcomes new Chairs to champion te reo Māori
Media release
We’re pleased to announce the appointment of our new Co-Chairs Brenda Soutar and Mātai Smith, who bring fresh energy to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.
Brenda Soutar has served on the Board for four years, including acting as Co-Chair since July 2024. She brings over four decades of experience in Māori language intergenerational transmission through Kōhanga reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori and Whare Wānanga. Brenda has raised her own children and mokopuna in te reo Māori.
“I look forward to a renewed focus for Te Mātāwai as we strengthen our approach outlined in the Māori Language Act and continue to empower whānau, hapū and iwi to lead their te reo Māori aspirations,” says Brenda.
Mātai Smith has an unwavering commitment to the revitalisation of the Māori language, having graduated from the first intake of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori and has championed te reo Māori on our television screens and in radio for more than two decades. He has served on the Te Mātāwai Board since October 2019.
Mātai says, “I’m excited to help steer Te Mātāwai toward our priority outcomes – Tukuihotanga (deliberate intergenerational transmission) and Hononga Hapori Reo (connected Māori language communities) as we support our communities to restore te reo Māori as the first language in our homes.”
The Board would also like to mihi to Reikura Kahi for her significant contribution to Te Mātāwai as Co-Chair since January 2021. Although she’s stepping down as Co-Chair, Reikura will continue as a Board Member.
“E mihi ana ki a Reikura mōna i ārahi i te poari o Te Mātāwai i ngā tau e rima kua pahure. Tuatahi hei Hoa-Toihau ki tō Tiare Te Pana taha, ka rua ki a Bernie O’Donnell, ka toru ki a Brenda Soutar. Kāore i kō atu, i kō mai i a ia,” te maioha a Mātai.
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