Hiria began teaching Te Reo Māori at Victoria University in 1977. Since then, she has gone on to gain her BA Honours, to train and examine translators for Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), and to co-design and teach te reo Māori on Radio Kahungunu and across Aotearoa New Zealand. Hiria has been instrumental in the revitalisation of te reo Māori, particularly through her teaching at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) where she works as a Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies.
Teaching the Māori language is Hiria’s absolute passion. She often finds herself teaching mixed generations together which does not daunt her; rather, she welcomes the sharing of skills, knowledge and questions that such a group brings. Hiria is very proud when she sees her students become leaders within their communities, workplaces or on their marae.
“I will never stop teaching the Māori language and hope to continue until my time is up” says Hiria.
Hiria Tumoana will join the 10 other Te Whatu Kairangi awardees at Parliament on the 4th of November at the official awards ceremony hosted by the Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills.
Ako Aotearoa Deputy Director Māori, Dr Joe Te Rito recently had this to say about Hiria:
“The proverb, ‘Te puna o te kī, te whītiki o te kī’ describes Hiria Tumoana most aptly. She is an authority on the Māori language, as a native speaker and linguist, and she has a special gift for teaching it. Hiria is an icon for her life-time commitment to the revitalisation and teaching of the language dating back to the 1972 Te Reo Māori Petition. She has taught at EIT for 40 years, consistently receiving wonderful student feedback. Highly sought after by students, she has taught thousands, with one saying, ‘Hiria inspires us every day’.
Anei ngā kōrero a te Tumuaki Tuarua o Ako Aotearoa, arā, a Dr Joe Te Rito mō Hiria inakuanei:
Ko te whakataukī, ‘Te puna o te kī, te whītiki o te kī’, e hāngai pū ana ki a Hiria Tumoana. He tohunga ia o te reo Māori, ko tēnei hoki tōna reo tuatahi, ā, he matatau hoki ia ki te wetewete, me te whakaako i te reo Māori. E mōhiotia whānuitia ana ia mō tōna pūmau ki te whakahaumanu me te whakaako i te reo, mai i te wā o Te Petihana Reo Māori i te tau 1972. Tōna whā tekau tau a Hiria e whakaako reo Māori ana i te EIT, ā, ka rite ngā kōrero whakamihi ā ngā ākonga mōna ia tau, ia tau. E hiahiatia nuitia ana ia e ngā ākonga, ā, he mea whakahihiko e ia te tini o te akonga, ā, ko tā tetahi akonga kōrero mōna, ‘Ia ra, ia ra, he mea whakahihiko mātou e Hiria.’
