10 Nov 2014

Awards honour fostering of Te Reo

8:40 pm on 10 November 2014

A school's radio station, community initiatives and a top educator have been honoured for their contribution to promoting Te Reo Maori at the Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori - Maori Language Commission awards in Rotorua.

Deputy principal Tane Bennett and students broadcastiong Te Reo lessons.

Deputy principal Tane Bennett and students broadcastiong Te Reo lessons. Photo: SUPPLIED

Kaa Williams

Kaa Williams Photo: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

Seventeen awards were presented on Friday, with Ngati Kahungunu iwi taking out the Supreme Award for efforts to encourage its people to learn the language and revitalise the iwi dialect.

A mainstream school in Tauranga, Te Aku ki Papamoa Primary, received the Education - Open award.

The school bought a radio and frequency three years ago and broadcasts Te Reo lessons three times a day into classrooms which are accompanied by in-class resources.

Deputy principal Tane Bennett said Te Reo is now a normal part of school life.

Kaa Williams, a well-respected tutor at the University of Auckland, received the Taku Toa Takimano award for her inspirational teaching.

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