Lynne Te Aika is a respected leader, educator, and advocate for te reo Māori revitalisation and Māori learner success. She has extensive experience in strategic leadership, governance, and education, holding senior roles including General Manager, Culture and Identity at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (2016–2020), and Head of School at Aotahi: Māori & Indigenous Studies, University of Canterbury (2010–2015). From 2021–2024, Lynne worked as an education and cultural consultant, coordinating Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori in the Ngāi Tahu region. This programme supported 1,200 teachers annually across five language levels, strengthening te reo Māori in schools throughout Te Waipounamu. Her leadership has included oversight of Ngāi Tahu initiatives in te reo revitalisation, whakapapa, archives, cultural mapping, and the Ngāi Tahu Fund for cultural projects. Lynne has also contributed extensively through governance, serving with the Matapopore Charitable Trust (2014–2022), where she led cultural narratives and naming for major Canterbury rebuild projects, including over 30 schools. She has chaired Ngāi Tūāhuriri Education for more than 20 years. In recognition of her contributions to te reo Māori and education, Lynne was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2000. Lynne affiliates to Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Tama Mutunga, Ngāti Awa and Te Whānau ā Apanui.
