TVNZ/Scottie Productions
Sir Tīmoti Kāretu (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu), who named Te Kaiaotanga o Te Reo, is one of several key speakers at the top of the South s first ever Māori language symposium.
Revitalising te reo Māori will require hunger, commitment and demand time, but it’s not impossible. That’s one of many wise words spoken by Sir Tīmoti Kāretu at a Māori language symposium held in Te Tauihu-o-te-waka-a-Māui (the top of the south) on Wednesday and Thursday. The symposium was opened by Kiley Nēpia, pouahurea (cultural advisor) of Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, to an audience of more than 450 people who had gathered to hear the stories and value of language revitalisation.