Manuka Henare was born in Auckland of Te Rawara and Te Aupouri iwi. Manuka whas the executive Officer of the Cathloc Commission for Justice, Peace and Development.
This paper draws on the result of a 1970s survey on the use of the Maori language in households and relates more recent information presented to the Waitangi and Broadcasting Tribunals. The significance of these accounts is discussed in relation to broader social issues, including institutionalized racism.