Newspaper Article 2015 – Passion for Maori language drives educator

Queen’s Birthday Honours

Passion for Maori language drives educator

Stewart Panapa-QSM

By Harrison Christian
[email protected]

At 82, Stewart Panapa has managed to cram a lot into his life.

The Hastings teacher and community volunteer has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for his services to Maori and education.

Mr Panapa said it was an “honour” to receive the recognition.

He said a passion for his native tongue had motivated him over the years.

“I was interested in pushing the Maori achievers at school, the achievers in te reo.

“I think if people have got the opportunity they should learn it,” he said.

Mr Panapa has been Ruahapia Marae representative on the Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga board and a trustee on the marae’s committee since 1976.

He was chairman of St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College Parent Teacher Association from 1979 to 1982 and served on boards of trustees for several schools for 28 years,  most recently as chairman of Mangateretere School’s board since 2007.

He has been an advocate for the role of education in improving the lives of Maori, training as a teacher in his 60s to further contribute in that area.

“Learning was a challenge, trying to educate yourself when you never went to high school,” he said.

He has taught te reo Maori at countless colleges around Hastings and Napier, and most recently at Mangateretere School since 2008.

“I never had one failure.

“Every kid passed, and they all went on to be good citizens,” he said.

Since 1948 he has held various positions within the Waipatu Maori Catholic Club, including chairman, and he is the current treasurer.

He joined the club when he was 14, and in 67 years hasn’t missed a single annual meeting.

He was vice-chairman of the Light House Trust from 2003 to 2005.

The trust is a Napier-based organisation for psychiatric patients with a broad spectrum of mental health issues.

He was chairman of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme from 1995 to 2004.

He established a community garden in Ruahapia and delivered vegetables to local families.