Te Huirangi Waikerepuru

Huirangi Eruera Waikerepuru CNZM (1 April 1929 – 8 April 2020) was a New Zealand Māori language activist and trade unionist of Taranaki and Ngāpuhi descent.[3] He was active in the foundation and governance of Māori language radio and television.[4][5]

Huirangi Waikerepuru

CNZM
Te Huirangi Waikerepuru
Born(1929-04-01)1 April 1929[1]
New Plymouth, New Zealand[2]
Died8 April 2020(2020-04-08) (aged 91)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Known forEstablishment of Māori-language broadcasting

Life and career

Waikerepuru was a key figure in the creation of Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i te Reo Māori (the Wellington Māori Language Board). The board lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal in 1984 to make Māori an official language of New Zealand. In 1986, the tribunal recommended that the language be acknowledged as a taonga (treasure) under Article II of the Treaty of Waitangi. This led to the claim being passed into law with the Māori Language Act 1987, which made Māori an official language, and set up Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission).[4][6]

The board went on to establish the Māori-language radio station Te Upoko o te Ika in 1988, which helped establish contemporary Māori broadcasting in New Zealand.[4]

Waikerepuru had a 30-year relationship with the Tertiary Education Union and predecessors,[3][7] which represents academic and general staff in universities and polytechnics.

Waikerepuru died in Palmerston North on 8 April 2020, aged 91.[4][8]

Honours

In 1995, Waikerepuru was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato.[4][3][9] In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori.[9][10]

References
  1. "Waka Huia | Television New Zealand | Entertainment | TV One, TV2". Tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  2. Hond, Ruakere (9 April 2020). "Waikerepuru showed path for Taranaki". Waatea News. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. TEU (11 June 2015). "Waikerepuru retires from TEU duties – TEU". Teu.ac.nz. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  4. "Force behind te reo Māori revitalisation Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru passes away". 1 News. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. "Māori-language campaigner Huirangi Waikerepuru – Biculturalism – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  6. "Te reo Māori – the Māori language". Te Ara. Government of New Zealand. p. 6. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. https://teu.ac.nz/news/te-hautu-kahurangi-moteuurns-the-passing-of-dr-huirangi-waikerepuru
  8. "Te Hautū Kahurangi mourns the passing of Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru". Tertiary Education Union. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. "Alumni honours - Alumni @ Waikato: University of Waikato".
  10. "Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru recognised for his commitment to Te Reo Māori | Māori Television". Maoritelevision.com. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
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