Iwi advisor supports Minister on kohanga reo trust

Willie Te Aho has supported the iwi leadership of Sir Toby Curtis and Pem Bird in asking for the National Kohanga Reo Trust to account for the allegations against its subsidiary company Te Ohanga Pataka Limited. He has also supported the position taken by the Minister of Education.

Te Aho is the lead negotiator for Te Aitanga a Mahaki in Gisborne and holds a range of iwi advisory roles. He attended the Iwi Chairs National Reo Hui hosted by Waikato - Tainui which was also attended by the Minister of Maori Affairs earlier this month. Both of Te Aho’s sons attended kohanga reo in Waikato.

"Go to the pain," is the advice from Te Aho to the trust.

"No one likes being in the media spotlight but unless the allegations against Te Ohanga Pataka Limited are independently audited and reported on, it will be death by a thousand cuts. In the long run, this will affect the credibility of the trust.”

Like Sir Toby Curtis, Te Aho acknowledged the passion of those involved in the kohanga movement.

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