Robert Mahuta
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, KNZM (26 April 1939 – 1 February 2001) was a prominent Maori politician. He was born Robert Jeremiah Ormsby but changed his name by deed poll. He was born in Te Kuiti, New Zealand and died in Hamilton, New Zealand
aged 61.
Mahuta was the first Maori leader to negotiate a satisfactory compensation settlement with the New Zealand government for tribal land confiscated under European settlement in the fledgling colony. In a deal completed in late 1994, he won a package worth NZ$170m for his Tainui
tribe for the seizure of 485,000 hectares of land in the North Island's Waikato Region 131 years earlier. Significantly for all Maoris, the settlement included the first formal apology given by the Crown to the indigenous people for historical wrongs during colonisation.
. He married Raiha (nee Edmonds) in 1964 and had one son and two daughters. His elder daughter, Nanaia
, is a Labour MP.
. Mahuta served as a Treaty of Waitangi
Fisheries Commissioner, Chairman of the Maori Development Corporation and Chairman of the Tainui Maori Trust Board. For his services to the Maori people he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in 1997.
(MP) Sir Douglas Graham.
"Sir Robert's achievements are unsurpassed, irrespective of the troubles in recent times," said former Minister of Māori Affairs
, Parekura Horomia
.
Mr Horomia had the utmost respect for Bob and was grateful for the opportunity to work with him, which they did so on numerous occasions.
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
aged 61.
Mahuta was the first Maori leader to negotiate a satisfactory compensation settlement with the New Zealand government for tribal land confiscated under European settlement in the fledgling colony. In a deal completed in late 1994, he won a package worth NZ$170m for his 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...
tribe for the seizure of 485,000 hectares of land in the North Island's Waikato Region 131 years earlier. Significantly for all Maoris, the settlement included the first formal apology given by the Crown to the indigenous people for historical wrongs during colonisation.
Family
Mahuta was the step-brother of the Maori Queen, Dame Te AtairangikaahuTe 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...
. He married Raiha (nee Edmonds) in 1964 and had one son and two daughters. His elder daughter, Nanaia
Nanaia Mahuta
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...
, is a Labour MP.
Career
He was the director of Maori Studies and Research at Waikato University from 1972-1877. In 1977, he studied at Wolfson College, OxfordWolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
. Mahuta served as a Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
Fisheries Commissioner, Chairman of the Maori Development Corporation and Chairman of the Tainui Maori Trust Board. For his services to the Maori people he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in 1997.
Tributes
Robert Mahuta was a "warrior in the true sense", said former Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) Sir Douglas Graham.
"Sir Robert's achievements are unsurpassed, irrespective of the troubles in recent times," said former 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:...
, Parekura Horomia
Parekura Horomia
Parekura Tureia Horomia is a New Zealand Labour Party past Minister of Māori Affairs-Early life:Horomia was born in Tolaga Bay of Ngati Porou, Te Aitanga Hauiti, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngai Tahu descent....
.
Mr Horomia had the utmost respect for Bob and was grateful for the opportunity to work with him, which they did so on numerous occasions.
External Links
- "Sir Robert Mahuta: a flawed colossus". www.nzherald.co.nz