Wiremu (Bill) Kerekere (1923-2001) - Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki (Image: Archives New Zealand - Communicate New Zealand Collection: R24460988)
Wiremu Kerekere Introduces an Interview with Sir James Henare
In an episode of the radio programme Te Reo o te Pipiwhararuoa, broadcaster Wiremu (Bill) Kerekere provides an introduction for an interview with Sir James Henare. Conducted by Haare Williams the interview speaks to the importance of kaupapa Māori and initiatives such as Te Kohanga Reo.
This is an excerpt from the recording 'Te Reo o te Pipiwharauroa', 27 November 1983 (43951).
Collection reference 43951
Year 1983
Credits Interviewer: Haare Williams
Haare Mahanga Te Wehinga Williams (1936 - ) - Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea (Image: Radio Waatea – UMA Broadcasting Ltd)
Haare Williams - Rua Cooper-Kaumātua o Waikato
Haare was born in Puha, Te Karaka, near Gisborne and "grew up with grandparents on the shores of the Ōhiwa Harbour near Ōpōtiki in the traditional Māori way, not learning English until aged nine when his schooling started". He was educated at primary schools in Kutarere, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Te Karaka and Puha and then attended Ōpōtiki College, Waikohu College and Whakatāne High School. He trained to be a teacher at Ardmore Teachers' College and also studied at Auckland University, graduating with a B.A. and Dip.Ed.
He taught at Maungatapu School, Tauranga, and was sole teacher at Te Aputa School in Taupō and Head Teacher at Matauri Bay School, Northland. He was a Community Director at Ngā Tapuwae College in Auckland. He was a lecturer in Education at Ardmore Teachers' College and was a lecturer in Māori Studies at Auckland Teachers' College. He was a Research Fellow and lecturer at the University of Waikato.
For eleven years he was a leading figure in Māori radio. He was inaugural General Manager of Radio New Zealand's Māori station, Te Reo o Aotearoa in 1978 and produced and presented flagship programmes such as He Rērenga Kōrero and a six-part audio biography of Waikato kaumātua Rua Cooper.
He was also co-founder and president of Nga Puna Waihanga (New Zealand Māori Artists and Writers' Association) for five years and edited its journal Koru. His work has been published in Pacific Quarterly Moana, Koru, Te Māori, Te Ao Hou and Marae. He was a Papakura city councillor for six years and was an executive director with the New Zealand 1990 commission.
Haare writes poetry, short stories, waiata and chants and non-fiction work. He has worked with master star navigator Hekenukumai Puhipi to write the story of waka and ethnography on Polynesian navigation using celestial navigation methods.
He has been involved with the Waitangi Tribunal in recording the stories of the old people. He is called on by iwi to interpret given evidence. He is a calligraphy artist and has exhibited in Auckland and Gisborne. His poetry has been published in various New Zealand anthologies, Te Ao Marama and school journals.
Collection reference 41670
Year 1991