Bay of Plenty's Te Kahautu Maxwell has been appointed to Te Paepae Motuhake, an independent panel reviewing the Maori language sector.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples made the appointment to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Ngati Manawa's Pem Bird.
"The heavy workload of leading his kura-a-iwi, coupled with his
recent election as president of the Maori Party, has led Pem to resign from Te Paepae Motuhake," Dr Sharples said.
"I want to really thank Pem for helping to establish a firm footing for the review panel.
"Especially the aspects relating to teaching children and language in the communities.
"I also want to thank Te Kahautu Maxwell who has agreed to join Te Paepae Motuhake. Te Kahautu is from the waka confederations of Horouta, Tainui and Mataatua, stretching from Ngati Porou through Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngai Tai, te Whakatohea, Ngati Awa and Tuhoe, and across to Ngati Maniapoto.
"He is an expert in language and tikanga, and a minister of the Ringatu Church.
"He is skilled in performing arts, as a composer of songs, haka and poi, and tutor of Opotiki Mai Tawhiti kapa haka and he's Mataatua's representative on Te Matatini."
Te Kahautu is head of tikanga at the University of Waikato's School of Maori and Pacific Development.
