Article: Famous Maori

 Sir Āpirana Ngata (Ngāti Porou)

Āpirana Ngata, of Ngāti Porou was born 3rd of July 1874 in Te Araroa on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Growing up he was influenced greatly by his father, Paratene Ngata, and his father’s Uncle Rāpata Wahaha. Both of these men were leaders within Ngāti Porou and they were the ones who encouraged Apirana to study, and study a lot. 

Ngāti Porou was one of the Iwi in New Zealand that had developed close relationships with the British Crown, and  he used these connections to educate himself in the ways of European politics and law. Āpirana Ngata was a great believer in education. He studied hard from the very beginning, eventually earning his way into Canterbury College and becoming the first Māori in New Zealand to graduate from University. He left university a fully qualified lawyer.

While he studied at European schools, it was his deep connection to his Māoritanga (Māori culture) that motivated his work after University. Māori culture was starting to be pushed aside, Māori were being encouraged to live, and behave like Europeans, and while Apirana did act, and behave in a European way, he knew that if somebody did not fight to keep Māori culture alive, it would likely go extinct.

Āpirana dedicated himself to the improvement of Māori, both socially, culturally, and economically. Using his education he helped to develop some of the most important pieces of law for Māori - the Māori Lands Administration Act 1900 -which allowed for them to set up “land boards” - a group of people who controlled the sale, and use of Māori land.

Āpirana became a Member of Parliament (MP)  in 1905, at only 31 years of age, and served as an MP for nearly 40 years. He became the Minister of Native Affairs between 1928, and 1934. It was from this position in New Zealand’s Government that he had the power to fight for Māori land rights, social issues, and for Māori education. 

Āpirana was a proud Māori and fought to set up businesses and schools for Māori throughout New Zealand, and it is this kind of work that created his legacy - in a world where Māori were looked down upon by the European colonists Āpirana fought to keep their traditions alive, not by fighting them in wars, but by playing the game the Europeans and protecting Māori culture with the power of the law .