Nanaia Mahuta
Encyclopedia
Nanaia Cybelle Mahuta BA
, MA
in social anthropology
, is a New Zealand
politician and was a cabinet
minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
. She was Minister of Customs, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Youth Development, Associate Minister for the Environment and Associate Minister of Tourism. She has strong links to the Te Kingitanga (Māori King Movement)
, being the daughter of Sir Robert Mahuta
, who was the adopted son of King Korokī
and the elder brother of Māori Queen Te Atairangikaahu
.
, when she became a list MP. In the 1999 elections
, she won the Te Tai Hauauru electorate, and in the 2002 elections
, she won Tainui. Before the 2008 general election
the electorate boundaries were changed and it was renamed Hauraki-Waikato
. She held the seat with a majority of 888.
, another Labour MP, in voting against the first reading of her party's legislation on the controversial foreshore and seabed issue
. She did not, however, join Turia when she quit Labour to found the Māori Party
. In the bill's second reading, she again voted against her party, but in the third reading, she changed her position and supported it, saying that while it had "serious flaws, ... at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do".
Mahuta held her electorate seat of Tainui
. Subsequently, Mahuta as part of the Labour-Progressive
coalition government, was Minister of Customs, Youth Development and Associate Environment and Local Government
. Mahuta lost her portfolios when Labour were defeated in the 2008 general election
.
In 2009, her Resource Management (Enhancement of Iwi Management Plans) Amendment Bill, which gives more weight to Māori in resource management decisions, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading in August.
On 15 June 2010, Opposition Leader Phil Goff appointed Mahuta to be Portfolio Spokesperson for Energy and Associate Portfolio Spokesperson for Law and Order. Energy was a portfolio formerly held by Shane Jones. At the same time, in addition to the portfolio appointments, both Mahuta and Charles Chauvel were moved to the parliamentary front bench.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in social anthropology
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
, is a 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...
politician and was a cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
. She was Minister of Customs, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Youth Development, Associate Minister for the Environment and Associate Minister of Tourism. She has strong links to the Te Kingitanga (Māori King Movement)
Maori King Movement
The Māori King Movement or Kīngitanga is a movement that arose among some of the Māori tribes of New Zealand in the central North Island ,in the 1850s, to establish a role similar in status to that of the monarch of the colonising people, the British, as a way of halting the alienation of Māori land...
, being the daughter of Sir Robert Mahuta
Robert Mahuta
Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, KNZM was a prominent Maori politician. He was born Robert Jeremiah Ormsby but changed his name by deed poll...
, who was the adopted son of King Korokī
Koroki Mahuta
Korokī I, Māori King was the fifth Māori King. He was born to parents Te Rata Mahuta and Te Uranga Matai and was a descendant of the first Māori King, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero. In 1954 he received Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when Her Majesty called at his official residence during the coronation...
and the elder brother of Māori Queen Te Atairangikaahu
Te Atairangikaahu
Dame Te Atairangikaahu, ONZ, DBE, OStJ was the Māori queen for 40 years, the longest reign of any Māori monarch. Her full name and title was Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu...
.
Member of Parliament
Mahuta was first elected to Parliament in the 1996 electionsNew 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...
, when she became a list MP. In the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, she won the Te Tai Hauauru electorate, and in the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, she won Tainui. Before the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
the electorate boundaries were changed and it was renamed Hauraki-Waikato
Hauraki-Waikato
Hauraki-Waikato is a new New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate for the New Zealand general election, 2008.It largely replaces the Tainui electorate...
. She held the seat with a majority of 888.
Foreshore and seabed controversy
In 2004, she joined Tariana TuriaTariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
, another Labour MP, in voting against the first reading of her party's legislation on the controversial foreshore and seabed issue
New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy
The New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy is a debate in the politics of New Zealand. It concerns the ownership of the country's foreshore and seabed, with many Māori groups claiming that Māori have a rightful claim to title. These claims are based around historical possession and the Treaty...
. She did not, however, join Turia when she quit Labour to found the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
. In the bill's second reading, she again voted against her party, but in the third reading, she changed her position and supported it, saying that while it had "serious flaws, ... at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do".
Cabinet minister
In the 2005 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
Mahuta held her electorate seat of Tainui
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
. Subsequently, Mahuta as part of the Labour-Progressive
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
coalition government, was Minister of Customs, Youth Development and Associate Environment and Local Government
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. Mahuta lost her portfolios when Labour were defeated in the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
.
In opposition
Following the defeat of the Labour government in the 2008 election, Mahuta was appointed spokesperson for Maori Social Development.In 2009, her Resource Management (Enhancement of Iwi Management Plans) Amendment Bill, which gives more weight to Māori in resource management decisions, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading in August.
On 15 June 2010, Opposition Leader Phil Goff appointed Mahuta to be Portfolio Spokesperson for Energy and Associate Portfolio Spokesperson for Law and Order. Energy was a portfolio formerly held by Shane Jones. At the same time, in addition to the portfolio appointments, both Mahuta and Charles Chauvel were moved to the parliamentary front bench.