New Zealand honours woman who revived Māori language
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In New Zealand, Dr Te Ripowai Higgins (Ngāi Tūhoe) received the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for over 43 years of service to education and Māori language.
Dr Higgins experienced punishment in school for speaking te reo Māori, the Māori language, during a time when the education system favoured English. Despite this, elders in her community encouraged her generation to persevere with their language and also learn English to understand outside influences.
Dr Higgins then dedicated her career to revitalising te reo Māori, helping to establish programmes in education, broadcasting, and public life. In 1982, she joined Te Ataarangi, a Māori language revitalisation movement, and remained involved for 42 years, extending the organisation’s reach to Indigenous communities internationally. She also served on the board of Te Māngai Pāho and helped found Te Upoko o te Ika, New Zealand’s first Māori radio station.
Dr Higgins hopes her work will inspire future generations to embrace their identity and culture. Her daughter, Dr Rawinia Higgins, is continuing this legacy as Māori Language Commissioner, noting that revitalisation efforts represent work across three generations. Recent research indicates many New Zealanders now value te reo Māori as an important part of national identity.
