Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2025 – Honouring the champions of te reo Māori

He rā nui whakanuia ai ngā toa o te reo Māori.

This year, Ngā Tohu Reo Māori (Māori Language Awards) honoured eight winners, across seven refreshed award categories at an incredible evening of celebrations at Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori hosts Ngā Tohu Reo Māori to recognise the people and organisations driving the normalisation and revitalisation of te reo Māori. From classrooms to sports fields and from communities to digital spaces, this year’s recipients remind us that the language thrives when it is spoken, seen and heard every day.

“We are honoured to recognise those who lead, inspire, and carve out a future for te reo Māori,” says Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori, Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr. “Their mahi shows that the language lives through everyday use, aroha and shared commitment.”

Eight recipients were celebrated for their creativity, leadership, and lifelong dedication to te reo Māori. Among them were Piripi Walker, a quiet trailblazer in Māori broadcasting and language advocacy, and Lorraine “Nanny Lolo” Hale, a lifelong champion of kōhanga reo and intergenerational learning.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori acknowledges the ongoing support of Te Māngai Pāho, Whakaata Māori, the Ministry of Education, Fonterra, Te Puni Kōkiri, Creative New Zealand, Te Matatini, and Te Mātāwai.

Read more

Te Tohu Oranga Angitu Lifetime Achievement Award

Piripi Walker (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga)

Recognised for decades of dedication to the revitalisation of te reo Māori. As a founder of Te Upoko o te Ika and a key figure in the Wai 11 claim, Piripi’s leadership has guided historic change and inspired generations to carry te reo Māori forward.

Tū Rangatira Supreme Award

Lorraine “Nanny Lolo” Pirihira Hale (Ngāti Awa)

Acknowledged for more than 40 years of service to te reo Māori through Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Teko and the National Kōhanga Reo Trust Board. Her aroha and commitment have nurtured generations of tamariki and whānau to live and learn te reo every day.

Ngā Kaiwhiwhi Tohu 2025

Award Winners 2025

Piripi Walker
Tohu Oranga Angitu | Lifetime Achievement Award. Sponsor: Te Mātāwai.
Lorraine Pirihira Hale | Nanny Lolo
Tū Rangatira | Supreme Award.  Sponsor: Te Matatini.
Auckland Transport
He Tohu mō te Reo Māori | Language Use Award. Sponsor: Te Māngai Pāho.
Aukaha News
He Tohu mō te Whakaaweawe i te Reo | Language Inspiration Award. Sponsor: Te Māngai Pāho.
Arataua Media
He Tohu mō te Whakaaweawe i te Reo | Language Inspiration Award. Sponsor: Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga.
Hākinakina Rangatahi – NZ Sports Collective
He Tohu mō te Whakarangatira i te Reo | Language Leadership Award. Sponsor: Whakaata Māori.
Tākuta Hona Black (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
He Tohu mō te Whakapiki i te Reo | Language Enlightenment Award. Sponsor: Te Puni Kōkiri.
Te Tira Kaiwhakamāori - Te Reo Māori ki Parī 2024
He Tohu mō te Whakahihiri i te Reo | Language Vitality Award. Sponsor: Creative NZ.

Ngā Kaitautoko

Sponsors

Te Māngai Paho
Te Māngai Pāho is a Māori language agency promoting Māori language and culture by funding creators and distributors of Māori language content. Our aim is to see te reo Māori spoken and heard everywhere, every day and in every way. 
Ministry of Education
Education is vital for Māori language revitalisation across all sectors, and Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga supports te reo Māori through education, enabling more young people to learn in and through the language.   
Fonterra
Fonterra, known in te reo Māori as Te Mātāpuna, is proud to sponsor Ngā Tohu Reo Māori and celebrate those who lead and inspire the revitalisation of our country’s first language. 
Whakaata Māori
Whakaata Māori is Aotearoa’s indigenous broadcasting station, dedicated to the revitalisation of the Māori language, culture and identity through broadcasting, with the ultimate goal of seeing te reo Māori thriving everywhere, at all times. 
Te Puni Kōkiri
Te reo Māori is fundamental to our nation’s culture and unique identity, and Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to support Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2025 awards, to honour the inspiring people and mahi that contributes to the revitalisation of te reo Māori. 
Te Matatini
Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival is an enriching environment where te reo Māori is normalised and celebrated through kapa kaka, and Te Matatini Society Incorporated is proud to support Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2025. 
Te Mātāwai
Te Mātāwai empowers Māori to restore te reo as a nurturing first language in homes and communities by protecting, promoting, and revitalising te reo Māori through partnership, leadership, influence, and investment.   
Creative NZ
Creative New Zealand is the national arts development agency of Aotearoa. We celebrate the achievements of all nominees and recipients of Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2025 and we remain proud to champion the revitalisation of te reo Māori through the arts.