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From Punished Speaker to Language Pioneer | Auckland News
Dr. Te Ripowai Higgins, a trailblazer in Māori language revitalization, has been honored with the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit — a recognition that echoes her painful past, when speaking te reo Māori in school was punished. For over 40 years, she’s turned that pain into purpose, championing the language through education, media, and community initiatives, including founding Te Ataarangi and Aotearoa’s first Māori radio station. Her legacy lives on through her daughter, Dr. Rawinia Higgins, now Māori Language Commissioner, proving how one generation’s courage can ignite the next…
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