Tribute to former chair Willie Jackson

26 October 2017

Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori congratulates its former Chairman Hon Willie Jackson

Kaore koe te korikori ngā iwi o te motu

Whawhai ana mai koe

Kia kite i aku mahi

Matakitaki Matakitaki

E Porou ka rawe koe i o mahi

E Hotu ka rawe koe i o mahi

Ka tika ha!

E hika, anei ra te mihi a Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo irirangi Māori

Ki tētahi o ngā pou o tēnei whare

Kua tū hei tāhūhū whakaruruhau mo te whare whakatipu kaha.

Me pēnei te kōrero

Kei te rukuruku a Te Rangitawaea i ōna Pueru.

The Acting Chair of Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori, the Māori Radio Network, Erana Keelan-Reedy paid tribute today to former Te Whakaruruhau Chair Willie Jackson, who resigned his chairmanship this week to return to Parliament as a Minister Outside of Cabinet in the new Labour, Greens and NZ First Coalition government.

“Kei te mihi atu mātou, ki tēnei pou o Te Whakaruruhau. Willie has been an exceptional leader of our network for the last nine years and the funding increase to iwi radio stations in 2016 and the bi-annual Iwi Radio Awards are just a couple of the positive initiatives rolled out during his watch.”

Jackson was sworn in today as part of the new Government Executive, and will be the Minister of Employment and Associate Minister for Māori Development. He was an Alliance MP from 1999 to 2002 and is one of the country’s respected senior broadcasters.

“I will miss his very unique, inspiring and sometimes combative style of leadership, which was grounded in a passion for our people, for our reo and kaupapa that promote Māori development. This makes him ideally suited for the cut and thrust of politics and we wish him well in his new roles.”

Earlier this week, Jackson resigned from the Executive, thanking current and past Executive members, and the network of iwi radio stations for their support over his nine year tenure. He acknowledged the Ministers he worked with who held the Māori Affairs/Development porfolio, for their contribution to the Network and the advancement of te reo Māori.

Te Whakaruruhau looks forward to working with the new Māori Development Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and welcomes the emphasis in the new cabinet on broadcasting and digital media.

For the immediate future it’s business as usual for Te Whakaruruhau, in preparation for their hui-ā-tau on 14 November 2017.

ENDS

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