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Pita Sharples

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The Honourable
Sir Pita Sharples
KNZM CBE
Sharples in 2024
42nd Minister of Māori Affairs
In office
19 November 2008 (2008-11-19) – 8 October 2014
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byParekura Horomia
Succeeded byTe Ururoa Flavell (As Minister for Māori Development)
Co-leader of the Māori Party
In office
7 July 2004 (2004-07-07) – 13 July 2013
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTe Ururoa Flavell
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tāmaki Makaurau
In office
5 October 2005 – 20 August 2014
Preceded byJohn Tamihere
Succeeded byPeeni Henare
Majority2127 (11.11%)
Personal details
Born (1941-07-20) 20 July 1941 (age 83)
Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Political partyMāori Party

Sir Pita Russell Sharples KNZM CBE (born Peter Russell Sharples,[1] 20 July 1941) is a New Zealand Māori academic and politician, who was a co-leader of the Māori Party from 2004 to 2013, and a minister outside Cabinet in the National Party-led government from 2008 to 2014. He was the member of Parliament for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate in Auckland from 2005 to 2014. He stepped down as co-leader role of the Māori Party in July 2013.

Early life and education

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Sharples was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke's Bay.[2] His mother Ruiha was of Ngāti Kahungunu, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton, United Kingdom.[3]

He received his early education at Waipukurau District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College. His four years there culminated in his becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life.[4] He then attended the University of Auckland, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the university as an instructor, working at the Faculty of Education. He subsequently gained an MA (1st class) in anthropology, and later a PhD in anthropology and linguistics – both also from the University of Auckland.[5]

Early career

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Sharples strongly opposed the construction of Auckland Thermal No. 1, a gas-fired power plant proposed for Te Atatū Peninsula. In 1973, the Third Labour Government of New Zealand abandoned plans for the plant after widespread opposition. During this period, Sharples was inspired to become more politically active, and soon after the scheme was abandoned he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Norman Kirk, explaining his reasons for opposing the plant.[6]

In 1984 Sharples led the kapa haka at the pōwhiri (opening ceremony) of the Te Maori exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.[7]

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2005–2008 48th Tamaki Makaurau 2 Māori Party
2008–2011 49th Tāmaki Makaurau 2 Māori Party
2011–2014 50th Tāmaki Makaurau 8 Māori Party

In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Māori political party. After the foreshore and seabed controversy in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia a former minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples organised a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru seat which was launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party with Sharples as co-leader.

In the 2005 general election Sharples contested and won the urban Auckland seat of Tamaki Makaurau displacing former Labour MP John Tamihere.

Minister of Māori Affairs

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Sharples speaking at the Ninth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New York City, 18 April 2010

In the 2008 general election Sharples was re-elected[8] with a majority of more than 7000.[9][10] The National Party won more seats overall and formed a minority government with support from the Māori Party, ACT New Zealand and United Future. Sharples was appointed as Minister of Māori Affairs, although like other support party members he remained outside Cabinet.[11] Sharples was returned to parliament in the 2011 general election,[12] and retained the Māori Affairs portfolio. He resigned as co-leader of the Māori Party in July 2013,[13] and retired from Parliament at the 2014 election.[14]

Honours

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Sharples was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Māori people, in the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours.[15] In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a Member of Parliament and to Māori.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Sharples continues rapid rise in politics". National Business Review. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Dr Pita Sharples". New Zealand Parliament. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  3. ^ Connew, Bruce (Spring 2004). "Main protagonists of the new Māori Party" (PDF). Te Karaka (25). Ngāi Tahu: 14. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  4. ^ Barry, Maggie (2007). "Inspiring mana". The Listener.(subscription required)
  5. ^ "Hon Dr Pita Sharples". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  6. ^ Cole, Grant (2015). "Peninsular Dreams". Te Atatu Me: Photographs of an Urban New Zealand Village. Auckland, New Zealand: Turner PhotoBooks and PhotoForum Inc. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-9597818-7-8.
  7. ^ NZ On Screen (1984). "Koha - Te Māori, a Cloak of Words". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Appointment of Ministers" (21 November 2008) 179 New Zealand Gazette 4633 at4634.
  9. ^ 2008 General Election: Results of the Official Count" (22 November 1980) 180 New Zealand Gazette 4637.
  10. ^ Tamaki Makaurau results 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Trevett, Claire (17 November 2008). "Maori Party takes 'sensible position'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  12. ^ "2011 General Election And Referendum On The Voting System Results Of The Official Count" (10 December 2011) 190 New Zealand Gazette 5477.
  13. ^ Trevett, Claire (2 July 2013). "Sharples confirms he's quitting as Maori Party co-leader". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Queens Birthday honours: Sharples is latest knight". Hawke's Bay Today. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  15. ^ "No. 52174". The London Gazette. 16 June 1990. p. 30.
  16. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pita Sharples.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau
2005–2014 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Māori Affairs
2008–2014 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
New political party Co-leader of the Māori Party
2004–2013
Served alongside: Tariana Turia 		Succeeded by
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