Roka Paora

Roka Pahewa Paora, Swinton, (15 February 1925 – 15 January 2011) was a pioneer of the Māori language, developing materials to teach the language within a whakapapa framework.

Early life Paora was born on 15 February 1925 in Raukōkore in the Bay of Plenty. She was educated at Raukōkore Primary School, Te Kaha Primary School, and Hukarere Māori Girls' College before training as a teacher at Auckland Teachers' Training College.

Work From 1946 to 1960, Paora was a primary school teacher in Te Kaha.

Paora died on 15 January 2011 at the Thornton Park Retirement Lodge in Ōpōtiki, and was interred at Wharekura Cemetery after lying at Te Kaha Marae.

Recognition Paora was awarded a Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa Distinguished Service Medal by Te Hahi Mihinare (the Māori Anglican Church), She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Waikato in 2010.

In 2017, Paora was selected by the Royal Society Te Apārangi as one of their "150 women in 150 words", celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.