Koro Dewes
Encyclopedia
Te Kapunga Matemoana "Koro" Dewes (1930 – 17 August 2010) was a kaumatua
of the Ngāti Porou
iwi of New Zealand. He was a pioneer of Māori education and an advocate for the Māori language
.
Dewes attended Horoera Native Primary School and won a scholarship to Wesley College
, where he became dux and head prefect. He went to Ardmore Teachers' College (now part of the University of Auckland
) in 1949 and taught at Tikitiki District High School
and St. Stephen's Anglican Māori boarding school. From 1962 to 1966, he lectured in the University Extension Department (adult education) of the University of Auckland
, and then was appointed as a lecturer in Māori language at the Victoria University of Wellington
. At Wellington, he helped to extend courses to allow students to complete a degree major in Māori language. He wrote a master's thesis on the work of composer Henare Waitoa, which was submitted in Māori in 1972. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature by Victoria in 2002.
Dewes returned to the East Cape
area in 1976, where in 1987 he helped form Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, an organisation which has championed and facilitated a strategic vision for the Ngāti Porou.
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples
said Dewes "was a partisan rather than a diplomat" who "has been an inspiration for language activists from every iwi
, and for indigenous peoples around the world."
Kaumatua
Kaumātua are respected tribal elders of either gender in a Māori community who have been involved with their whānau for a number of years. They are appointed by their people who believe the chosen elders have the capacity to teach and guide both current and future generations...
of the Ngāti Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
iwi of New Zealand. He was a pioneer of Māori education and an advocate for the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
.
Dewes attended Horoera Native Primary School and won a scholarship to Wesley College
Wesley College, Auckland
Wesley College is a secondary school in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The school provides education from year 9 to 13.The school was founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1844, making it one of the country's oldest schools. Initially located in Grafton and then the Three Kings area of Auckland, it...
, where he became dux and head prefect. He went to Ardmore Teachers' College (now part of the University of Auckland
Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
) in 1949 and taught at Tikitiki District High School
Tikitiki
Tikitiki, formerly known as Kahukura, is a small township close to the estuary of the Waiapu River, 150 kilometres north of Gisborne in northeastern New Zealand. State Highway 35 passes through it, and the settlement is the easternmost point on the New Zealand highway network....
and St. Stephen's Anglican Māori boarding school. From 1962 to 1966, he lectured in the University Extension Department (adult education) of the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, and then was appointed as a lecturer in Māori language at the Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. At Wellington, he helped to extend courses to allow students to complete a degree major in Māori language. He wrote a master's thesis on the work of composer Henare Waitoa, which was submitted in Māori in 1972. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature by Victoria in 2002.
Dewes returned to the East Cape
East Cape
East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is located to the north of Gisborne in the northeast of the North Island....
area in 1976, where in 1987 he helped form Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, an organisation which has championed and facilitated a strategic vision for the Ngāti Porou.
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples
Pita Sharples
Pita Russell Sharples, CBE, , a Māori academic and politician, currently co-leads the Māori Party. He currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau in New Zealand's Parliament.-Early life:...
said Dewes "was a partisan rather than a diplomat" who "has been an inspiration for language activists from every iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
, and for indigenous peoples around the world."