Te Mātāwai Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) Poia Rewi has announced he will step down from his role in March 2025, after nearly five years at the helm of efforts to revitalise te reo Māori.
Rewi, who affiliates to Ngāti Manawa, Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whare, and Tūwharetoa, has been instrumental in growing Te Mātāwai and strengthening its ability to support te reo Māori.
Since his appointment in 2020, he has overseen the organisation’s expansion from a team of just four staff members to 38 full-time employees.
A key achievement under his leadership has been the addition of nine full-time positions within the regional Pae Motuhake teams, which are dedicated to supporting iwi and Māori communities in their language revitalisation efforts.
Te Mātāwai co-chair Reikura Kahi praised Rewi’s significant contributions and leadership.
“We are grateful to Poia for all he’s achieved as Tumu Whakarae. As a skilled expert in te reo Māori, tikanga, whaikōrero and research we’ve benefited from his immense pūkenga and the direction he’s taken us.
“Most of all though, we’ll miss Poia’s authenticity, his manaakitanga towards all people, and his unwavering commitment to te reo Māori revitalisation all day, every day,” she said.
Kahi highlighted Rewi’s leadership in establishing eight Kāhui (regional groups), each supported by a Pae Motuhake board, as well as his role in shaping Te Mātāwai’s long-term strategic vision.
That vision, symbolised by a waka journey to Hawaiki Tipuna in 2027, sets the ambitious goal of restoring te reo Māori as a vibrant, everyday language by 2040.
Reflecting on his departure, Rewi said he felt mixed emotions but acknowledged it was time to move on.
“I have achieved all the objectives set out for me upon my appointment, and more. Now, I want to spend quality time with my whānau. I also want to support the kāinga, hapori and iwi I moved away from, where there’s still a huge desire for reo and tikanga,” he said.
The search for Rewi’s successor is set to begin in the new year.
