Koro Wetere
Encyclopedia
Koro Tainui Wētere, CBE (born 22 June 1935) is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1969 to 1996, representing the Labour Party
. He served as Minister of Māori Affairs
in the Fourth Labour Government
(1984–1990).
as MP for the Western Maori
electorate, one of the four Māori seats
in New Zealand's House of Representatives. Given Labour's traditional dominance in the Māori seats, Wētere held his position without difficulty until his retirement at the 1996 elections
.
when the Labour Party won the 1984 elections
.
Wētere was criticised at one point for the "Māori Loans" scandal, in which the head of Wētere's department attempted to arrange an unauthorised loan to help Māori businesses. Wētere was the subject of strong attacks over the issue by National Party
MP Winston Peters
, but denied any wrongdoing. When Labour lost power in the 1990 elections
, Wētere returned to opposition for two terms before retiring from politics. Wētere was regarded as strongly belonging to the right wing of the Labour caucus, and was a strong ideological ally of Roger Douglas
.
In 1990 Wētere refused to translate his addresses to parliament into English, having given them in Māori
. This was one of a number of steps which pushed the issue of the use of Māori in public life during this time. There are now arrangements for simultaneous interpretation between English and Māori in Parliament.
awarded Wētere an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the well-being and the advancement of Māori affairs in Aotearoa
in 1999, and a lifetime award in 2008.
Wētere was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 New Year's honours, for services to Māori.
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He served as Minister of Māori Affairs
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
in the Fourth Labour Government
Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 2 November 1990. It enacted major social and economic reforms, including reformation of the tax system. The economic reforms were known as Rogernomics after Finance Minister Roger Douglas...
(1984–1990).
Member of Parliament
He was first elected to Parliament in the 1969 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1969
The 1969 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 36th term. It saw the governing National Party win a fourth consecutive term, under Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.-The Election:...
as MP for the Western Maori
Western Maori
Western Maori was one of the four former New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* -Tribal Areas:...
electorate, one of the four Māori seats
Maori seats
In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
in New Zealand's House of Representatives. Given Labour's traditional dominance in the Māori seats, Wētere held his position without difficulty until his retirement at the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
.
Cabinet minister
Wētere became Minister of Māori AffairsMinister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
when the Labour Party won the 1984 elections
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
.
Wētere was criticised at one point for the "Māori Loans" scandal, in which the head of Wētere's department attempted to arrange an unauthorised loan to help Māori businesses. Wētere was the subject of strong attacks over the issue by National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
MP Winston Peters
Winston Peters
Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
, but denied any wrongdoing. When Labour lost power in the 1990 elections
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, Wētere returned to opposition for two terms before retiring from politics. Wētere was regarded as strongly belonging to the right wing of the Labour caucus, and was a strong ideological ally of Roger Douglas
Roger Douglas
Sir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
.
In 1990 Wētere refused to translate his addresses to parliament into English, having given them in Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
. This was one of a number of steps which pushed the issue of the use of Māori in public life during this time. There are now arrangements for simultaneous interpretation between English and Māori in Parliament.
Post politics
The University of WaikatoUniversity of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
awarded Wētere an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the well-being and the advancement of Māori affairs in Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
in 1999, and a lifetime award in 2008.
Wētere was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 New Year's honours, for services to Māori.