A te reo Māori expert who lights up the ‘gram with discussions of humour and idioms in te reo will join Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington as their first Professor of te reo Māori in late July.
Professor Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea me Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is an esteemed academic, and a wellknown advocate for the revitalisation of te reo Māori. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, reflecting his lifelong commitment to advancing Māori language and education throughout Aotearoa.
“We’re thrilled to have Hona join us at Te Kawa a Māui as our first Professor of te reo Māori. We have a distinguished history of te reo Māori teaching, advocacy and innovation and Hona’s appointment will help us continue that focus,” says Mike Ross, Head of School, Te Kawa a Māui.
He joins Te Kawa a Māūi from Massey University, where he was an Associate Professor, and taught into Te Aho Paerewa—Postgraduated Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Māori medium). He has a PhD in Applied Linguistics, a Masters of Māori Language Excellence, and a MA in Māori Studies, and has a notable record of teaching, research, and curriculum development.
As a prolific commentator on the quirks of te reo Māori, Hona is a regular on social media channels for Generation Reo, and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. As well as having authored several books, he has also developed board games to aid with the learning of te reo.
Professor Black’s publications include several Māori language learning books, including He iti te kupu: Māori metaphors and similes and Ngā hapa reo: Māori language errors. In September, he will release his book He kete kīwaha: A practical guide to Māori idioms.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be joining Te Herenga Waka and Te Kawa a Māui. I’m especially mindful of the many people who have carried and nurtured te reo Māori here over the years, and it’s an honour to become part of that story.”
In his new role, Professor Black will lead Te Kawa a Māui’s efforts to foster academic excellence, enhance research in Māori language, and strengthen community engagement. His appointment marks a significant step in supporting the normalisation and intergenerational transmittion of te reo Māori across academic, whānau, and public domains.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori & Kaitiakitanga Professor Rawinia Higgins says, “The appointment of Professor Hona Black is timely as he will help us review the direction of our te reo Māori programmes. I am looking forward to his leadership and continued contributions to Māori language revitalisation and scholarship here at Te Herenga Waka.”
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He kaiwhakahau reo ka eke hei Ahorangi tuahi mō te reo Māori ki Te Herenga Waka
He mātanga reo e tiaho ai te māramatanga ki runga i te paeāhua i ngā kōrero e kikī ana i te manawa reka me te kīwaha. He mātanga reo ka whītiki mai ki Te Herenga Waka hei Ahorangi tuatahi mō te reo Māori hei te Hūrae e tū mai nei.
Nō Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea me Ngāti Tūwharetoa a Ahorangi Hona Black. He tautōhito mātauranga a Hona e mōhio whānuitia ana mō tana ngākau nui ki te whakarauora i te reo Māori. He puna mātaranga, he pukenga wai ka kawea mai e ia ki tēnei tūranga, inā rā, ngā mahi katoa e whakaatu ana i te ariā o tana noho pūmau ki te kōkiri i te reo Māori me ngā mahi ako ki roto o Aotearoa.
E ai ki te Tumuaki ō Te Kawa a Māui a Mike Ross, “E poho kereru ana mātou kua piri mai a Hona ki Te Kawa a Māui hei Ahorangi tuatahi mō te reo Māori. Kua roa mātou e ahu atu ana ki te ao whakamārohirohi i reo mā roto mai i te ako, i te whakatairanga, me te whakamātau hoki i te ngākau auaha. Nā te whakarite i a Hona ki taua tūranga, ka māro ake taua whāina.”
Ka whakawhiti mai a Hona ki Te Kawa a Māui i Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa te wāhi i noho ai ia hei Ahonuku. I whakapau kaha ia ki te whakaako i Te Aho Paerewa. I riro mai i a Hona tana tohu kairangi mō te wete reo me tana tohu paerua mō te wete reo me te mātauranga Māori, otirā, e mōhitia ana tōna toa ki te ako, rangahau me te whakawhanake marau.
He manawa piharau a Hona ki te whakatakoto whakaaro mō ngā āhuatanga o te reo. He kanohi kitea a Hona i runga i te pae pāpāho pāpori, arā, mō Generation Reo me te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. I tua atu i ngā pukapuka kua oti nei i a ia te tuhi, i whai wāhi hoki ia ki te whakawhanake i ētahi papa kēmu hei ako i te reo.
He maha ngā pukapuka kua oti nei i a Ahorangi Hona Black te tuhi mō te taha ki te ako i te reo. E whai ake nei ko ētahi o āna mahi kua tāngia, arā, He iti te kupu: Māori metaphors and similies me Ngā hapa reo: Māori language errors. Hei te Hepetema ka whakarewatia tana pukapuka – He kete kīwaha: A practical guide to Māori idioms.
E ai ki a Hona, “Nōku te waimarie ki te hono atu ki Te Herenga Waka me Te Kawa a Māui. E tino ngākau whakaute ana ahau ki ngā tāngata o Te Kawa a Māui nā rātou te reo Māori i romiromi i roto i ngā tau, nōku te hōnore ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā kōrero e iri ana ki ngā pakitara o te whare.
I tōna tūranga hou, mā Ahorangi Black e kōkiri i ngā mahi a Te Kawa a Māui ki te whakatairanga i ngā mahi e eke ai te tiketiketanga o te mātauranga me ngā mahi rangahau mō te reo Māori, me te whakamāro i te mahi ngātahi me te hapori. He tohu tēnei whakawhiwhinga i te taunakitanga i te ora o te reo me te ako i te reo ki ngā rēanga i roto i te horopaki o te ao mātauranga, whānau me ngā wāhi tūmatanui.
E ai ki te Tumu Ahurei Māori ki a Ahorangi Rawinia Higgins, “ He mea nui te whakarewatanga o Ahorangi Hona Black ki tēnei tūranga, inā rā, kia whai wāhi mai ia ki te taki haere i ngā hōtaka reo Māori. E ngākau nui ana ahau i ōna pukenga ki te ārahi kaupapa me ngā mahi ka tāpaetia e ia ki te whakarauora i te reo me te whakatairanga ake i te kounga o te mātauranga ki Te Herenga Waka.”