Apirana Ngata

Apirana Ngata, of the Ngati Porou (New Zealand Maori tribe/iwi), was born at Te Araroa. He was educated at Te Aute College, and received a MA (Political Science) at Canterbury University. He received a LLB in 1879 from Auckland, and was the first Maori lawyer of New Zealand. He was during these years an influential member of the Young Maori Party, and had assimilation policy views on Maori/Pakeha (Colonists, European descent) relations. He worked on the Maori Councils Act, but when this failed to help the Maori, he entered Parliament, and was a member of the then-named Liberal Party.

He helped write the Native Land Act of 1909, (Maori land joined together, and developed communally with government grants into economic areas). In 1912, he turned to his iwi, the Ngati Porou, to help them develop their land. He started the Waiapu Farmers Co-Operative, and made 30 000 pounds profit, which was used to benefit the Ngati Porou.

In 1928, he persuaded the Anglican Church to create a Maori Bishop of Aotearoa (NZ). He also wrote books on the preservation of Maori culture through song, and encouraged carving and the building of maraes (meeting houses). During this year, his party, United (a joining of Reform and Liberal) placed him as Minister of Native Affairs (he was to be the last Maori Minister of Native Affairs for nearly fifty more years). He continued to develop Maori land, but all over the country this time. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s saw his projects limited. He encouraged (with government approval) the Maori to forage for food like their ancestors had done, and not rely on government backing.

Apirana Ngata was respected by both Maori and Pakeha, but when the Auditor-General found irregularities in documents about government grants, he was attacked from all sides. Although these allegations were never proven, Ngata took an honourable course of action, and resigned from cabinet. He stayed in Parliament for another eight years, before leaving to recruit Maori warriors for WWII to join the much respected Maori Battalion.

He continued to inspire, and is acknowledged as the major Maori leader of the 20s and 30s, as well as having the highest political influence out of all of the Young Maori Party.

Sources:
'Maori and Pakeha - Race Relations 1912 - 1980' by Mark Sheehan
Longman Write-on Notes : History : Race Relations by Roger Childs and Steve Watters