Professor Tīmoti Kāretu

Sir Tīmoti Kāretu (Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) is one of Māoridom’s most respected linguists. He was the first Māori language commissioner, between 1987 and 1999, and then was executive director of Te Kohanga Reo National Trust from 1993 until 2003. In 2003, he was closely involved in the foundation of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, the Institute of Excellence in Māori Language, and served as its executive director.

In 2019, Tīmoti translated nine songs from English to Māori language for the album, Waiata/Anthems, which peaked at No. 1 on the New Zealand album charts in September 2019.He is considered a master of te reo Māori (the Māori language) and is recognised nationally and internationally for his knowledge and work in the language. 

In 1992, he received the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for services to the Māori language. In 1970, he was appointed as the first Professor of Māori Studies at the University of Waikato. In 1987 he became the first Māori Language Commissioner at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission). He continued in the role until 1999. From 2003, Dr Kāretu was the Head of Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (Māori language and culture preschools).

He has been involved in numerous Māori performing arts competitions as a tutor, a composer, a judge and an organiser. He was the head of the national Māori performing arts competition for many years. He is also one of the three New Zealand Fellows of the International Centre for Language Revitalisation.