[3] He was active in the foundation and governance of Māori language radio and television.

The board lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal in 1984 to make Māori an official language of New Zealand.

In 1986, the tribunal recommended that the language be acknowledged as a taonga (treasure) under Article II of the Treaty of Waitangi.

[4] Waikerepuru had a 30-year relationship with the Tertiary Education Union and predecessors,[3][7] which represents academic and general staff in universities and polytechnics.

[4][3][9] In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori.