Source: Te Mātāwai
Te Mātāwai Co-Chairs Mātai Smith and Ruakiri Fairhall welcome Raniera McGrath, (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu o Torongare) to Te Mātāwai Board as Poutaki of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Tokerau.
A respected Māori language researcher, cultural practitioner and business owner, Raniera brings extensive experience across education, governance, research, facilitation and community development. He is currently pursuing his doctoral research in Māori linguistics, focused on the language traditions and dialects of Te Tai Tokerau.
Te Mātāwai Co-Chair Mātai Smith says Raniera’s deep involvement in community-led language revitalisation makes him well placed to advance our strategic direction.
“Raniera brings a unique combination of governance expertise, academic achievement and community engagement. He has spent years working alongside whānau, hapū and iwi to advance te reo Māori aspirations across Te Tai Tokerau,” says Mātai.
“Having someone who understands the realities and opportunities for our hapori who can help shape governance decisions strengthens Te Mātāwai and ensures those community voices remain at the centre of our work,” adds Ruakiri.
As Director of Moko Kauri Ltd, Raniera works alongside whānau, hapū, iwi and organisations to strengthen te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori. He is also a strong advocate for the taumata across Te Tai Tokerau and the role they play in keeping language revitalisation grounded in local aspirations, identity, and leadership.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to serve Te Tai Tokerau me te iwi Māori whānui.
“I resonate with the whakataukī, ‘Ko te ora o tō tātou reo ko te kāinga, ko te awatea o tō tātou reo ko ngā tamariki o te wā.’ If our tamariki are to carry our reo into the future, it is up to us to lay strong foundations and be the examples they can see, hear and follow, so that the wellbeing of our reo is sustained within our homes and carried forward through generations,” says Raniera.
The Board would like to acknowledge Aperahama Kerepeti – Edwards, outgoing Poutaki of Te Pae Motuhake o Te Tai Tokerau, for his significant contribution to the Board and his Pae Motuhake since joining in August 2021.
“Aperahama is a fine exponent of te reo Māori and has had a huge input with community initiatives using innovation and the traditions of Te Tai Tokerau to support language learning, fluency and excellence, especially within whānau homes and on marae taumata.”