Reappointments to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Board strengthens continuity and leadership

Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has confirmed the reappointment of Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod as Deputy Chair and Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM as a Board member of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.

The appointments are for a three-year term commencing on 2 September 2026 and provide continuity for Te Taura Whiri as it continues its work to revitalise and promote te reo Māori.

"These reappointments ensure Te Taura Whiri continues to benefit from experienced leadership and strong governance," Mr Potaka says.

"Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod and Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand each bring extensive experience, deep knowledge and a longstanding commitment to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.

"Their continued leadership will help Te Taura Whiri build on its important work to grow, promote and normalise the use of te reo Māori across Aotearoa.

"I thank Jeremy and Jennifer for their ongoing service and their continued commitment to strengthening te reo Māori."

Notes to editor

Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod (Ngāti Kahungunu)

Dr MacLeod has served on the Board of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori since 2019 and will continue as Deputy Chair for the remainder of his term.

He brings more than 15 years' experience in governance and Māori language revitalisation across iwi, community and private sectors. An award-winning language expert, cultural advisor and graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, Dr MacLeod leads Ngāti Kahungunu's intergenerational language revitalisation strategy, Kahungunu, Kia Eke!

Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM

Ms Ward-Lealand is an acclaimed theatre, film and television actor, director and long-time advocate for te reo Māori. She has championed the language since 2008 and was gifted the name Te Atamira by Tā Timoti Kāretu and the late Professor Te Wharehuia Milroy in 2017.

She has extensive governance experience, including as a founding Board member of Watershed Theatre and co-founder of The Actors' Programme. She was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to film, theatre, and television. ...