Wanganui identity Huia Henere will feature in Waka Huia on TV1 tomorrow.
Mrs Henere (pictured), of Ngati Porou, was the founder and principal of Te Heti Te Kohanga Reo in Hinau St, Castlecliff. That was the first kohanga reo in Wanganui, opening in 1983.
"Kohanga reo and kura kaupapa need to remain strong because if we lose our language, then who are we?" said Mrs Henere.
TVNZ production assistant for Waka Huia, Juneea Silbery, said the show was a half-hour feature about interesting life stories.
"One of our producers got a call to say that Huia had just turned 80 and would be an excellent candidate for a story," said Ms Silbery.