Harry Dansey
Encyclopedia
Harry Delamere Barter Dansey MBE
(1 November 1920 – 6 November 1979) was a prominent New Zealand
Māori journalist
, cartoonist
, writer
, broadcaster
, local-body politician, and race relations conciliator.
, Auckland
, New Zealand
to Harry Delamere Dansey, a civil engineer
, and his wife Winifred Patience Dansey (née Barter).
Dansey began his education at Remuera Primary School in the Auckland suburb of Remuera
. His family moved to Rotorua
in 1930, where he completed the rest of his primary education, and then high school from 1934 to 1939. He had a knack for English, and his father instilled in him a love for Māori culture, somewhat influencing his career.
He married Te Rina Makarita (Lena Margret) Hikaka on 19 May 1943 at Oeo, near the town of Manaia, Taranaki.
He was a member of the 28th (Māori) Battalion
during World War II
in North Africa
and Italy
. Dansey often scouted ahead to gather intelligence information to aid the advancement of the Battalion. This required him to sketch landscapes and buildings, which he enjoyed. He was discharged from the Army in 1946, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
where he took up a position with the Taranaki Daily News
. This was where he started his cartoon-drawing for multiple newspapers.
He also enjoyed the freedom of freelance journalism and social commentary, contributing to the Māori-aimed magazine Te Ao Hou - The New World, and commenting on Māori issues on radio. This led to him and his family moving to Auckland where he earned the position as a writer on Māori and Pacific Island
affairs at the Auckland Star
.
Dansey wrote a full-length play in 1971, Te Raukura: the feathers of the albatross, which first played in 1972 at the Auckland Festival.
In 1974, Harry Dansey was made Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to journalism.
an culture. Dansey became a member of the Human Rights Commission
in 1978.
Besides journalism, politics, cartooning and theatre, Dansey became interested in radio broadcasting, and subsequently became one of station 1ZB's first talkback hosts, and was also a frequency to current affairs programmes.
He was buried with his relations at Muruika cemetery in Ohinemutu, Rotorua
.
Other works
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1 November 1920 – 6 November 1979) was a prominent New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Māori journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, local-body politician, and race relations conciliator.
Early life
Harry Dansey was born in GreenlaneGreenlane
Greenlane is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.The Greenlane shops are the main shopping centre for the suburb of Epsom and are situated at the intersection of Manukau Road and Green Lane West...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to Harry Delamere Dansey, a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, and his wife Winifred Patience Dansey (née Barter).
Dansey began his education at Remuera Primary School in the Auckland suburb of Remuera
Remuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
. His family moved to Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
in 1930, where he completed the rest of his primary education, and then high school from 1934 to 1939. He had a knack for English, and his father instilled in him a love for Māori culture, somewhat influencing his career.
He married Te Rina Makarita (Lena Margret) Hikaka on 19 May 1943 at Oeo, near the town of Manaia, Taranaki.
He was a member of the 28th (Māori) Battalion
Maori Battalion
The 28th Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion, was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour government by some Māori MPs and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Dansey often scouted ahead to gather intelligence information to aid the advancement of the Battalion. This required him to sketch landscapes and buildings, which he enjoyed. He was discharged from the Army in 1946, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
Journalism career
Dansey first started his journalism career when he completed an apprenticeship with the Hawera Star, before moving on to become editor and part-owner of the Rangitikei News. His family then moved to New PlymouthNew Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
where he took up a position with the Taranaki Daily News
Taranaki Daily News
The Taranaki Daily News is a daily morning newspaper published in New Plymouth, New Zealand.The paper was founded as the Taranaki News on May 14, 1857, by friends of former Taranaki Province Superintendent Charles Brown. Brown was the first proprietor of the newspaper and he appointed his political...
. This was where he started his cartoon-drawing for multiple newspapers.
He also enjoyed the freedom of freelance journalism and social commentary, contributing to the Māori-aimed magazine Te Ao Hou - The New World, and commenting on Māori issues on radio. This led to him and his family moving to Auckland where he earned the position as a writer on Māori and Pacific Island
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
affairs at the Auckland Star
Auckland Star
The Auckland Star was an evening daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, from 24 March 1870 to 20 August 1991. Survived by its Sunday edition, the Sunday Star, part of its name endures in The Sunday Star-Times, created in the 1994 merger of the Dominion Sunday Times and the Sunday...
.
Dansey wrote a full-length play in 1971, Te Raukura: the feathers of the albatross, which first played in 1972 at the Auckland Festival.
In 1974, Harry Dansey was made Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to journalism.
Race relations conciliator
Harry Dansey was appointed New Zealand's second race relations conciliator in 1975. This entailed investigating complaints, and mediation. He stressed the need for people to respect other cultures, and he consulted and trained in business, government, legal and professional organisations. He believed that New Zealand would develop its own unique culture, derived from both Māori and EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an culture. Dansey became a member of the Human Rights Commission
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution in New Zealand. It is funded through the Ministry of Justice, but operates independently of the New Zealand Government...
in 1978.
Other interests and vocations
Dansey was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1971, serving until 1977 with a reserve in Central Auckland being named in his honour, recognising his contribution to the city. In 1973, he moved to the Department of Māori Affairs to further develop the Department's public relations profile.Besides journalism, politics, cartooning and theatre, Dansey became interested in radio broadcasting, and subsequently became one of station 1ZB's first talkback hosts, and was also a frequency to current affairs programmes.
Later life and death
Harry Dansey retired from his role as race relations conciliator in October 1979, dying a few weeks later. He was survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter.He was buried with his relations at Muruika cemetery in Ohinemutu, Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
.
Books
Works by Dansey- How the Māoris came to Aotearoa (1947)
- The Māori people (1958)
- Cartoons on international affairs (1958)
- The New Zealand Māori in colour (1963)
- Māori custom today (1971)
Other works
- How the Māoris came - Written by A.W. Reed and illustrated by Dansey