Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board is tasked with the role of Kaitiaki of Te Kōhanga Reo Movement

Patron: Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII

Muri: Hurimoana Dennis, Matua Hook, Anaru Rieper, Te Wheoro Rangikotua, Daniel Procter, Eugene Cassidy, Hone Te Rire

Mua: Peggy Luke-Ngaheke, Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Dame Karen Sewell, Hoana McMillan

Te Kōhanga Reo Board Members

Te Tairāwhiti

Ue Pohatu, Ngāti Rangiwaho, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Tairawhiti Whānui

Daniel is the first graduate of Kōhanga Reo to become a Board member.  He was nominated by his Kōhanga Reo whānau and appointed in 2016.

In 2021 Daniel was elected by Te Tairāwhiti rohe to be their representative on the Board. 

He was reappointed as Co-Chair in 2022 with Te Wheoro Rangikotua board representative for Mātaatua/ Tauranga Moana.  

Daniel is a Graduate of Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Iti Kahurangi i Te Tairāwhiti.

It has been a new learning experience for Daniel to represent Kōhanga reo in the structures of Te Ao Māori and political forums as a representative of Kōhanga Reo. He is passionate about seeing the fruition of the Wai 2336 Claim, that has been lying dormant for a long time.

A fluent speaker of te reo Māori and graduate of the prestigious Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, Daniel also brings his experience and knowledge from the education and social sector to the role.

As a Pāpā in Kōhanga Reo he also represents the “He Manu Pīrere” alumni and the future faces of the kaupapa.

Mātaatua/ Tauranga Moana

Te Wheoro Rangikotua

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhoe 

Te Wheoro started in Kōhanga Reo with her own children in 1984, as a mother and a Kaiāwhina. Her flax roots experience provides an invaluable insight into whānau management and the realities of working in a Kōhanga Reo environment. 

A holder of Te Tohu Mātauranga Whakapakari Tino Rangatiratanga, and a Kaiwhakamātau for her Purapura, Te Wheoro has tracked her tamariki through to Kura Kaupapa and sat as chair to its Board, while also having roles on Land and Whānau Trusts.

As co-chair Te Wheoro is focused on important issues facing Kōhanga Reo, that is to affirm and entrench te reo and tikanga into the kaupapa, to strengthen whānau so they stand tall, and that Kōhanga Reo is recognised and acknowledged as having its own status under a Kōhanga Reo statute.

A passionate advocate of Kōhanga Reo “Kōhanga Reo connects us as a motu through our mokopuna, who then move on to become, lawyers, movie stars, artists and doctors. A seed from Rangiatea that will never be lost.”

Te Aupouri, Te Taitokerau Whānui Whanganui

I was eighteen years old when I first joined the Kōhanga Reo movement as a teacher aide.

After completing three years in this role at Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Piri o Waimirirangi in Te Kao, I became a teacher, I’m currently sitting as chair for my Kōhanga Reo.

Ngāti Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Ngati Kahunungu

Hurimoana believes that Kōhanga Reo is the perfect platform for getting a good start in life, in fact, he believes that if you get it right at Kohanga Reo you get it right everywhere else in life, it all begins at Kohanga Reo. An outspoken advocate for Homelessness and the general state of poverty amongst Māori and those socially disadvantaged. His efforts as the chair of Te Puea Memorial Marae in South Auckland were recognised and he was made the Kiwi Bank Hero of the Year which was an honour and privilege that he accepted on behalf of the whanau of Te Puea Memorial Marae.

Hurimoana worked as a member of the NZ Police force for 30 years to reduce Maori participation in crime and providing support to victims and communities in need. Hurimoana brings an urban flavour to the Board, that seeks to bind those dislocated from their marae and whānau while respecting and embracing the ahi kaa roa of Tamaki Makaurau.

He was re-elected in 2022 to represent Tāmaki Makaurau Kōhanga Reo and advocate for the Kaupapa.

Ko Putauaki te Maunga, Ko Takanga i o Apa te Wai, Ko Te Paepae ki Rarotonga te Waka, Ko Hahuru te Marae, Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau te Iwi

Hone has a wealth of experience on various Boards, is an ordained Minister of the Presbyterian Church and is an Amorangi Minister of the Māori Synod (Te Aka Puaho)

Aotea, Ngāpuhi

Eugene Cassidy represents the Aotea region. He currently resides in Taumarunui and is endorsing the Kōhanga Reo kaupapa and its fundamental principles within his region of residence, as well as his representative rohe, Aotea.

Eugene Cassidy believes “That we hold fast to the teaching of our Kui and Koroua, to acknowledge those who established Kōhanga Reo. So, they will never be forgotten.”

Waiariki Tūwharetoa

Hoana McMillan-BA, Grad DipT, PG Dip Ed, MEd

I te taha o tōna pāpā, he uri ia nō Tauranga Moana.  Ki te taha o tōna māmā, nō Ngāti Kahungunu me Ngāti Porou ia.  Heoi, i whānau mai ia i te rohe o Te Arawa waka, ā, kei reira tonu rātou ko tōna whānau e noho ana.

Hoana is a graduate of Te Kōhanga Reo ki Rotokawa. She is a mokopuna of Hoana Pōmare who was one of the first teachers of this Kōhanga reo.

Her mother Leah McMillan has been a long-standing supporter of all the Kōhanga reo in Waiariki/ Tūwharetoa.

Her older sister is the head Kaiako of Te Kōhanga Reo ki Rotokawa.

Kōhanga reo is her world.

Ngāti Kahungunu, McGhee

Matua hails from the Hook whānau of Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, and the McGhee family from Te Waipounamu. His parents were raised within Māori and Pakeha worldviews, both hard-workers who taught Matua from a young age how to care for the land, the sea, the people and all things that nurture and nourish.  

His tamariki and mokopuna have all attended Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, Whare Kura and Whare Wānanga which is testament to his ongoing commitment and support to kaupapa Māori.

Since the early 90's Matua has helped 60 Kōhanga Reo to develop strong financial, legal and operational management practices using Te Korowai and Te Ara Tūāpae as the basis. Matua is committed to working toward the continued development of Te Kōhanga Reo, and is humbled by the opportunity to enhance mokopuna wellbeing and development.

Ikaroa

Peggy Luke-Ngaheke

Tū tonu au ki runga i te taumata ō tōku tupuna maunga ko Pukeatua, ka titiro whakawaho ki te tai ororua ō te Matehou me Ngāti Haamua. Kitea iho ko ngā wai e rua ko Te Awamutu ko Waiwhetu, Waiwhetu hoki tōku whenua tupu i roto i te Arohanui ki te Tangata.

Ōku tauheke, ōku paheke, ko au tētehi toi ō Ngā Kumu o te ahi kaa ō te mana Whenua.

Ko Peggy Luke-Ngaheke. E noho ana ahau ki Waiwhetu.

I am humbled to be voted on as a member of the Poari Matua ō Te Kōhanga Reo to represent ngā Kōhanga Reo o Ikaroa.

As a foundation Mātua (Māmā) of our wonderful movement, I believe that there must be changes to retain our kaupapa as we enter our fourth decade of Kōhanga Reo.

Waiwhetu-Arohanui ki Te Tangata Kōhanga Reo was one of five pilot Kōhanga Reo, alongside Kōkiri Seaview, that opened in 1982.

Over the past 39 years, it has been a privilege to participate as Mātua, Kaupapa Kaimahi, cook, and cleaner within:

  • Kōhanga Reo whānau
  • Local and District Tino Rangatiratanga Unit
  • Head Office Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust as operations manager
  • Working with purapura

Ikaroa has always been an innovative and a responsive district that is “pono” to our kaupapa.

“Once a Kōhanga Reo whānau…always a Kōhanga Reo whānau”

“Pono ki te Kaupapa, Puna ko te reo”

Tom Alesana is the newly elected board member to represent Te Waipounamu. His Grandmother's parting wish to him was to stay close to the kaupapa and support the Kōhanga Reo in any which way he can, so Tom’s journey in Te Kōhanga Reo is one of promise and love.

Tom’s Grandmother and Mother were both kaiako in Kōhanga Reo, and his sister is now the chairman of their whānau Kōhanga Reo in the South Island. By representing Te Waipounamu and Wharekauri, Tom is continuing the legacy of his whānau being part of the Kōhanga Reo movement.

History of the Board and its role

Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust was set up and incorporated on  4 January 1984 under the Charitable Trust Act 1957. On the 14 September 1992 the name was changed by resolution to Te Kōhanga National Trust Board where the rules were amended to give better clarity and understanding for their responsibilities as Kaitiaki.

The board consisted of a Patron and Board Members

The Trust Board is responsible for the following principles

  • Tikanga Māori
  • Operating under the principles of good stewardship
  • Maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity

And will continue to have the following focus:

  • To promote, support and encourage the use and retention of Te Reo
  • To Promote, support and encourage: The Kaupapa of Te Kōhanga Reo and in particular the goal of total immersion in Te Reo Māori.
  • The establishment and maintenance within New Zealand of Te Kōhanga Reo
  • Financial  and administrative advisory support
  • To Liase with the Crown and Government departments and other relevant bodies for the purposes of promoting the Kaupapa of Te Kōhanga Reo. 

Membership onto the board is open to all persons whom meet the criteria for nomination within their respective rohe and is for a term of 5 years.

The board consists of no more than 10 members and no less than 6.

Te Whare Punanga Kōrero

This role is held by Te Arikinui Kīngi Tuheitia(the Māori King) and his successors as the continued legacy of the involvement of Te Kingitanga in their role of supporting and promoting  the kaupapa of Te Kōhanga Reo to whānau throughout the motu.

A representative of the king (Dame Iritana Twhiwhirangi)  will attend Board meetings and other meetings specific to the activities of the Trust. This role does not hold voting rights. 

We are forever grateful to those original trustees who had the vision and foresight to guide the waka of Te Kōhanga Reo for future generations:

Te Kōhanga Reo Trustees since 1983

1983 15th December Te Kōhanga Reo Trust- Board Members

  • Tamati Reedy Secretary of Dept Māori Affairs
  • Iritana Tawhiwhirangi CEO of Maori Affairs Dept
  • Ruka Broughton Senior Lecturer Māori Studies Victoria University
  • John Bennett Chair Māori Education Foundation
  • Wiremu Kaa Director of Māori and Island Education

10 representatives from regions

List of Previous Board Members and Patrons

  • Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu 
  • Sir James Henare

Te Kōhanga Reo Trust Deed

The trust deed is a set of rules and obligations that sets out the purpose of our organisation.

The deed outline the roles and responsibilities of the Trustees, the objectives of the organisation and the outcome for its beneficiaries.

Click here to view.

Contact the Board

Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board Email: [email protected]