The Board
Our Board members are Māori language exponents, leaders in their respective iwi and area of expertise, and passionate about and committed to the revitalisation of the Māori language.
Te Mātāwai has a board of 13 members who are each appointed for a three-year term, for a maximum of three terms. Seven are selected by and for a kāhui ā-iwi, four represent Te Reo Tukutuku (Māori language organisations) and two are appointed by the Minister for Māori Development. The Board as a collective is responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation, to ensure the operational objectives are implemented and a strong relationship between Te Mātāwai Board and the Pae Motuhake is maintained.
Te Reo Tukutuku Representatives
Kāhui ā-Iwi Representatives
Te Tai Tokerau
Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards (Chair of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Tokerau)
Ngātiwai
Aperahama was appointed by Te Kahu o Taonui on behalf of the 16 iwi of the Te Tai Tokerau Iwi Cluster to strengthen current community-centred initiatives as well as using innovation and the traditions of Te Tai Tokerau to support language learning, fluency and excellence across Te Tai Tokerau all the way down to Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aperahama is a fine exponent of the Māori language and has a track record in being part of many boards within Te Tai Tokerau, including the Ngātiwai Trust Board, to increase Te Reo being spoken, seen and used in the region, especially within whānau households and on marae taumata.
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Tainui
Haki Tuaupiki (Chair of Ngā Paemanu o Tainui)
Waikato, Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Nō te tau rua mano tekau mā ono a Haki i whakanohongia ai hei māngai ki Te Pae Motuhake o Tainui. He ringaringa, he waewae hoki ia nā tōna iwi e kōkiri ana i ngā kaupapa mātauranga mō te reo Māori me te wānanga whakatere waka. He pūkenga, he kairangahau hoki ia ki Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. Ko te matū o tana rangahau, ko te whakaohooho i te reo Māori ki roto i ngā rangahau whakatere waka, e roa nei te huna i te whārangi o te pukapuka. He pouārahi hoki ia mō te reo ki tōna hapū, ki a Ngāti Mahuta ki te Hauāuru, ahakoa pēwhea.
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Te Arawa
Bryce Murray (Chair of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Arawa)
Te Arawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui
Bryce has a deep and abiding passion for Te Ao Māori, Māori Advancement and Community Development with over two decades of experience and expertise in Mātauranga Māori, and the Social and Education Sectors. Bryce holds several tribal representative, trustee and advisory positions on boards and committees such as Tikitere C Ahuwhenua Trust, Te Whare Wānanga o Te Arawa Trust, Ngā Mahinga Toi (Chair), Te Pae Motuhake o Te Arawa and Te Pae o Mataariki: Te Rangihakahaka - Centre of Science and Technology (Chair).
Since 2013 Bryce has been employed by Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust to develop, coordinate, facilitate and manage Te Rautaki Reo o Ngāti Whakaue and Te Paepae Wānanga o Ngāti Whakaue. Bryce is currently employed as Poumanatū (Ahurea Māori) with Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue, providing managerial oversight for Te Ahu o Te Reo, Paepae Wānanga and Te Reo o Whakaue projects. Bryce is also the current chairperson of the Ngāti Whakaue tribal committee – Te Paetapu o Ngāti Whakaue.
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Te Tai Rāwhiti
Mātai Smith (Chair of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Rāwhiti)
Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa
Mātai served on Te Tai Rāwhiti Pae Motuhake for three years prior to his appointment to the Board in 2019. He has extensive experience working in broadcasting as an award-winning presenter and producer and graced our television screens for more than two decades. Mātai graduated from the first intake of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori and exhibits an unquestionable commitment to the revitalisation of the Māori language. As the current Station Manager for iwi radio station Tūranga FM, he continues to work tirelessly to ensure the Māori language continues to grow and flourish in Gisborne and Te Tai Rāwhiti. Mātai led the genesis and development of both the Rongowhakaata and Ngāi Tāmanuhiri rautaki reo. He currently sits on the boards of a whānau trust, Te Tira Whakaari and is acting Deputy Chairman for Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori.
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Te Waipounamu
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe (Chair of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Tonga)
Ngāi Tahu, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe has been involved with Kotahi Mano Kāika, the Ngāi Tahu Māori language strategy, since signing her whānau up in 2000 when it was first launched. Paulette and her partner, Komene, have been on their Māori language journey, raising their tamariki in the Māori language as the main language spoken in their home in Dunedin. Paulette is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori and brings experience in facilitation, planning, education, teaching, waiata performance and composition. She started her first term as a Board member for Te Mātāwai in 2017 and was reappointed for a second term.
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Te Reo Tukutuku Representatives
Te Reo Tukutuku board members represent the interests of four clusters of Māori language organisations:
Education - Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, Ngā Ringa Raupā o ngā Kura-ā-Iwi, Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga.
Media - Te Whakaruruhau o ngā Reo Irirangi Māori o Aotearoa, Ngā Aho Whakaari.
Community - Te Rūnanga o Te Ātaarangi Trust, Māori Women's Welfare League Incorporated, New Zealand Māori Council.
Urban Interests - National urban Māori Authority.
Education
Brenda Soutar
Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki
Brenda was appointed to the Board in 2021. She is actively involved in Māori language revitalisation and regeneration with over 30 years’ experience in education across kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori and whare wānanga. Her work includes the application of international theories and practises of language acquisition and revitalisation within Māori language immersion contexts. Before taking up her current role as curriculum advisor for Te Rūnanga Nui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, Brenda was principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki. She brings first-hand experience to the vision that "te reo Māori is restored as a nurturing first language" having raised her own children speaking only Māori to them at home while they were educated entirely in te reo Māori from kōhanga reo through to wharekura.
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Media
Kylie Brown
Ngāi Takoto, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Porou
Kylie was appointed as the media representative in 2018. She has extensive experience in Māori radio, Māori television production and communications. Kylie sits on the board of Te Hiku Media, provides technical Māori language advice to the New Zealand National Geographic Board, is an Editor of the dictionary He Pātaka Kupu and was the first Principal Linguist of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.
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Community
Dr Teina Boasa-Dean
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Teina was appointed to the Board in 2018. She is the Executive Manager of BHW Lands Trust and Education Manager for Pāhauwera Iwi Development Trust. Teina is passionate about the natural world and has given keynote speeches and interviews on what the world can learn about Māori world views and principles to tackle global environmental challenges. Teina is currently Chair/Toihau of our Komiti Rangahau and is part of our Komiti Tautapa.
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Urban Māori
Bernie O’Donnell (Co-chair of Te Mātāwai)
Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tahu
Bernie has served on Te Pae Motuhake o Te Reo Tukutuku since its inception and was appointed to the Board in 2021. He is currently the General Manager of Waatea and has extensive experience in Māori radio broadcasting. Bernie is Chairman of Manukau Urban Māori Authority and Auckland District Health Board and holds directorships on several boards, including Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, UMA Broadcasting Limited and National Urban Māori Authority.
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Ministerial Representatives
Reikura Kahi (Co-chair of Te Mātāwai)
Waikato, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Kuki Airini
Reikura Kahi was elected to the Board in 2019 and appointed as Co-chair alongside Tīare Tepana in 2021. Reikura is among the first generation of kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa and wharekura graduates. She brings a rangatahi perspective and governance experience. She was Chair of Ngā Tūmanako Incorporated Society and had roles on the board of Te Puna Reo o Manawanui and Manawanui Charitable Trust. Reikura is a Māori language consultant and graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori. Her previous roles include Programme Commissioner at Māori Television, assessor for Te Māngai Pāho and company director for Te Wheke Group.
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Wenarata Kingi (Māngai mō te Minita)
Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa
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