Tere Gilbert

Tere Ngawai Gilbert is a New Zealand early childhood educator and advocate for the te reo Māori language. In 2024 Gilbert was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to early childhood and Māori language education.

Early life and education Gilbert is Māori, and affiliates to Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Kahungunu iwi. Gilbert attended the University of Waikato where she earned a Bachelor and a higher diploma of teaching, a postgraduate diploma in education, and a Master of Business Administration. Gilbert represents Ngā Puna Reo o Aotearoa on the Ministry of Education's Early Childhood Advisory Committee.

Honours and awards In the 2024 Queen's Birthday Honours Gilbert was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to early childhood and Māori language education.