Jean Puketapu

Jean Gloria Edith Puketapu or Jean Puketapu-Waiwai QSO (26 July 1931 – 31 July 2012) was a Ngāi Tūhoe Māori language native speaker and co-founder of the first kōhanga reo. Puketapu was one of thirteen children of Haami and Te Ngaroahiahi Waiwai, shearers in the Ureweras near Lake Waikaremoana. She was beaten at Kokako Native School at Tuai for speaking Māori language and at home for speaking English, but obtained a scholarship to Hukarere College in Napier. At the age of 18, she moved to Lower Hutt with her sister and her husband, who was the son of Rua Tapunui Kenana, the Maori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist.

Jean Puketapu

Jean Gloria Edith Puketapu or Jean Puketapu-Waiwai QSO (26 July 1931 – 31 July 2012) was a Ngāi Tūhoe Māori language native speaker and co-founder of the first kōhanga reo. Puketapu was one of thirteen children of Haami and Te Ngaroahiahi Waiwai, shearers in the Ureweras near Lake Waikaremoana. She was beaten at Kokako Native School at Tuai for speaking Māori language and at home for speaking English, but obtained a scholarship to Hukarere College in Napier. At the age of 18, she moved to Lower Hutt with her sister and her husband, who was the son of Rua Tapunui Kenana, the Maori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist.