Hauraki reo advocate Korohere Ngāpō says Pānia Papa is the right person to represent Tainui on Te Mātāwai.
Ngāpō says her in-depth knowledge of the Māori language and its customs reaches across all spectrums of the tribal language.
"She doesn't just focus on the dialect of her own tribe but she's a person who will listen to the views of all the tribes within the Tainui canoe region. Without a doubt she's an advocate for the dialects of Hauraki, Waikato, Raukawa and Maniapoto,” he said.
Yesterday, the Māori Party identified Pānia Papa as the Tainui representative.
Papa, Ngāti Koroki-Kahukura, was a member of the Independent Panel that reviewed the Māori Language Strategy in 2011. She is the co-author of Waikato-Tainui's Te Reo Kaakaho Programme that teaches Māori to their beneficiaries.
She will join the 13-member board of Te Mātāwai which has been charged with leading the revitalisation of the Maori language.
The Minister of Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, is expected to announce the final two ministerial members to the board, by the end of this month.
