05 Jul Dr Cathy Dewes
Dr Cathy Dewes (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou) joined us as the Kaikōrero Matua for day one of the Toi Tangata Hui ā Tau 2023. She is a leader in Māori education and Māori language revitalisation. A founding member of Te Rōpū Reo Māori (Māori Language Society), she helped instigate the Māori Language Petition in 1972. Dr Dewes was also instrumental in the establishment of Kura Kaupapa Māori schools throughout New Zealand, and is currently the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata, in Rotorua. Her example of raising their tamariki i te reo, and also creating a world where they and te reo me ōna tikanga can thrive has been their (me tona hoa, ko Papa Rawiri) commitment.