Hana Te Hemara
New Zealand activist
About Hana Te Hemara
Lived 1940 – 1999 (aged 59).
Hana Mere Te Hemara (16 February 1940 – 10 October 1999) was a prominent Māori activist and leader.
Biography Te Hemara, of Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa descent, was the seventh of 12 children,
She grew up in Mangakino where her father worked on the dams at Karapiro and Mangakino The group organised protests at Waitangi.
On 14 September 1972, Te Hemara along with Lee Smith, Rawiri Paratene and Syd Jackson This led to the day being declared Māori Language Day. Three years later, it was expanded to Māori Language Week.
In 1979, Te Hemara joined the Māori Affairs Department with the Māori Language Commission, a result of her work.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Hana Te Hemara's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Hana Te Hemara's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hana Te Hemara?
New Zealand activist
When was Hana Te Hemara born?
Hana Te Hemara was born on 16 February 1940 in Bell Block, New Zealand, Te Āti Awa.
When did Hana Te Hemara die?
Hana Te Hemara died on 10 October 1999 in Auckland.
What was Hana Te Hemara known for?
Hana Te Hemara was known for Māori people.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hana Te Hemara. https://biography.guide/hana-te-hemara/
MLA: "Hana Te Hemara." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hana-te-hemara/.
Chicago: "Hana Te Hemara." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hana-te-hemara/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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