Mary Gray, Wellingtonian and lifelong advocate of multilingualism in New Zealand, has become the first person in New Zealand to win the influential International World Council of Language Teachers (FIPLV)'s prestigious FIPLV International Award for her significant contribution to the teaching and learning of international languages.

Pro Chancellor of Victoria Univeristy of Wellington and Chinese Language Foundation Vice Patron, Mr Ian McKinnon, officiated at the presentation ceremony, hosted by the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers (NZALT). Over 80 language teachers attended.

NZALT President Noeline Grant pointed out that it was the first time this award had been offered and there were only 6 people selected world wide to be honoured with the award. "We are delighted that one of those recipients is a New Zealander, our Mary Gray."

"This is a great honour for our country to be acknowledged at such a presitigeous level," said Noeline Grant. "We are deeply indebted to Mary Gray, who can more aptly be described as an icon than just an influencer, teacher, and protagonist for learning languages in New Zealand".

"Mary has, over the last thirty odd years, worked with astounding stamina towards the goal of getting more of us to learn international languages such as French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and now Chinese".

"Not only has she shown us the strength of her single-minded vision, she has worked at building networks, writing newsletters and attending meetings. She has taught us the value of long-term dedication to the cause", she said.

"I am thrilled and very grateful for this award", said Mary Gray. "Language learning in New Zealand suffered a severe blow in the late '60s when the University Entrance Board removed foreign language study from the university entrance requirements. The New Zealand Association of Language Teachers was founded in the early '70s to help reverse the subsequent decline in international language learning. I have been involved ever since and it has been a most rewarding journey and experience".

"New Zealand needs to develop a clear education policy to facilitate the acquisition of international language skills. The fact that schools will be required to offer a second language from Years 7 - 10 by 2008 is proof that New Zealand is taking the learning of languages more seriously and moving in the right direction. But it needs to be far more emphatic in the allocation of resources to ensure quality output for the mainstream in this country".

The NZALT is the nationwide professional association of over 570 teachers of languages, other than English and Maori, from the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. It is the nominating body for New Zealand entries for the FIPLV International Award, which is being conferred in recognition of exceptional and outstanding contribution to language teaching and learning over an extended period. Recipients will have been actively involved in NZALT to be nominated.

The Award Presentation was held at the conclusion of the NZALT's Regional Language Teachers' Language Seminar at the International Campus, Trentham, Upper Hutt.