Minister Tama Potaka Reappoints Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Board Leaders

Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has announced the reappointment of two key leaders to the board of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), ensuring continuity for the nation's language revitalisation efforts. The appointments, confirmed on 24 July 2026, see Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod (Ngāti Kahungunu) continue his role as Deputy Chair, alongside acclaimed actor and director Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM as a board member. Minister Potaka stated that the reappointments, which commence for a three-year term on 2 September 2026, provide the Commission with experienced leadership and strong governance. He highlighted that both individuals bring extensive knowledge and a long-standing commitment to growing and normalising te reo Māori across Aotearoa. Dr MacLeod, a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, has served on the board since 2019. He is a recognised language expert and cultural advisor who leads the Ngāti Kahungunu intergenerational language strategy, Kahungunu, Kia Eke! His governance experience spans more than 15 years across iwi, community, and private sectors. Ms Ward-Lealand, a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, has been a prominent advocate for the language since 2008. She was gifted the name Te Atamira in 2017 by Tā Timoti Kāretu and the late Professor Te Wharehuia Milroy. Her background includes significant governance roles within the arts sector, including as a founding board member of Watershed Theatre. Minister Potaka thanked both members for their ongoing service and commitment to strengthening the Māori language.