Dr Te Ripowai Higgins Honoured as Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Māori Language Advocacy

A veteran champion of te ao Māori, Dr Te Ripowai Higgins (Ngāi Tūhoe), was honoured at an investiture ceremony in Wellington this week for her lifelong commitment to the preservation of te reo Māori. As reported by RNZ and Whakaata Māori, the 76-year-old educator received the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) from Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, marking more than 43 years of service to Māori development. The recognition is particularly poignant for Dr Higgins, who reflected on her early childhood years in an education system that punished students for speaking their native tongue. Speaking to Pūkāea, she noted that te reo Māori was the only language she knew when she first entered school. She credited the resilience of her kaumātua and kuia for teaching her generation to adapt and master English without abandoning their own cultural foundations, turning the adversity of assimilationist policies into an opportunity to navigate two worlds. Dr Higgins has been a cornerstone of several major Māori institutions. In 1982, following an invitation from Hoani Te Rangihau, she became an inaugural board member of the Te Ataarangi movement. Working alongside icons such as Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira and Ngoingoi Pēwhairangi, she helped share language-learning approaches with other Indigenous communities internationally over a 42-year tenure. Her career also includes three terms on the board of Te Māngai Pāho and playing a vital role in establishing Te Upoko o te Ika, the first Māori radio station in Aotearoa. A respected educator, Dr Higgins spent 20 years at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, eventually serving as the head of Te Kawa a Māui. Today, her legacy continues through her daughter, Dr Rawinia Higgins, who serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori at Te Herenga Waka and the Māori Language Commissioner. Reflecting on the hōnore, Dr Higgins said her primary focus has always been to encourage Māori to embrace their identity and represent their culture with integrity. She expressed hope that the honour would serve as an example for the Te Ataarangi family, ensuring the work of their ancestors remains vibrant and enduring for future generations.