Skip Content

Marlborough’s mayor John Leggett (second from left) says doing te reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has given him confidence to kōrero in public. With him (left to right) at his recent graduation from the level 2 course are Marlborough Harbourmaster Luke Grogan (left), his Executive Assistant Jill Crossman (second right) along with kaiako Hine Bartlett and local Te Wānanga o Aotearoa manager Peter Joseph. Mayoress Anne Best also graduated. 

Marlborough’s mayor John Leggett has just graduated from Level 2 Te Ara Reo Māori (He Pī Ka Pao).

He says his study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has given him confidence to kōrero when doing public speaking and made him comfortable with tikanga.

The mayor undertook levels 1 and 2 to establish a base level of competency in pronunciation and an ability to kōrero place names and kupu correctly, as well as to understand tikanga. 

His office says he recognises that the presence and use of te reo, and its use in a community, are symbolic of identity.

This is particularly relevant in signalling goodwill in engaging with tangata whenua, the iwi of Te Tau Ihu.

Mayor Leggett says it was a privilege to study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, that he found classes most enjoyable and is very appreciative of the investment and dedication of kaiako Hine Bartlett and support from kaiwhakahaere ako Peter Joseph.

 Back to news & events

Published On:

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 27 March 2025

    A whakairo journey shaped by art and community

    Murray ‘Muzz’ Green (Te Kanawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Whatakaraka, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Te Kiriwai, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Ngutū, Whānau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Porou) left school at 15 when he realised conventional education wasn’t for him.

  • 20 March 2025

    Nāwai i tauira, kua kaiako

    Ahakoa he rerekē noa atu te ao i tipu ake ai a Rob Bromley i tāna e mōhio nei i tēnei rā, nō te ohinga ake, ka rongo ia i tētahi hao ki te reo Māori.

  • 10 March 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa recognised as leader in Māori HR

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was awarded the prestigious Mana Tangata Award at the 2025 NZ HR Excellence Awards on Thursday 27 February in Tāmaki Makaurau.

  • 06 March 2025

    A kaiako who built more than a course

    When Peter Waaka arrived in Queenstown many years ago, with a career spanning government work, hotel management, and Māori development teaching wasn’t on his radar. But life has a way of leading us in unexpected directions, and for Peter, that was helping tauira turn their business ideas into reality.