Pita's current parliamentary roles are:
- Co-Leader of the Maori Party
- Minister of Maori Affairs
- Associate Minister of Corrections
- Associate Minister of Education
Top 5 Issues
Personal Profile
Honours/decorations
CBE for services to New Zealand in education 1990
Personal details
Born 20 July 1941, Waipawa, Hawkes Bay, married with five children and six mokopuna. Iwi affiliations : Ngati Kahungunu of Hawkes Bay, Ngai Te Kikiri o te Rangi, Ngati Pahauwera
Education/qualifications
- Takapau Primary School 1946-1953
- Waipukurau District High School 1954-1956
- Te Aute College, Pukehau, Hawkes Bay 1957-1960
- BA in Geography and Anthropology, University of Auckland 1961-1966
- TTC, Auckland Post Primary Teacher’s College 1963-1964
- Dip Tchg 1966-1966
- MA (1st class) in Anthropology, University of Auckland 1967-1968
- PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Auckland 1969-1976
Career
- Teacher, Lynfield College 1965-1965
- Part-time Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland 1966-1967
- Junior Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland 1968-1969
- CEO, Office of the Race Relations Conciliator 1972-1980
- Member, Auckland Police District Maori Advisory Board 1972-2004
- Member, Board of Governors, Queen Victoria School 1974-1989
- Director of Culture, Department of Maori Affairs 1981-1990
- Director of Maori Programmes, 1990 Commonwealth Games 1989-1990
- Consultant, Department of Justice 1991-1991
- Member, Maori Education Research Unit, Department of Education, University of Auckland
- Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Education, University of Auckland 1991-1996
- Director of Programmes, Hoani Waititi Marae 1991-
- Consultant, Ministry of Education 1991-1992
- Consultant, Ministry of Health 1992-1993
- Cultural Consultant, Sky City Casino Project 1993-1996
- Training long lerm unemployed for work, Sky City Casino 1995-1996
- Trustee, Maori Education Trust 1995-
- Teacher and Administrator, B.M.S. programme, Auckland Institute of Technology 1996-1996
- Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi Marae 1996-1996
- Visiting Associate Professor, Aorangi Maori Trust Board, University of Auckland 1997-1997
- Consultant, National Advisory Council, Maori Law Commission 1997-1997
- Commissioner, Maori Education Commission, NZ 1997-1997
- International Institute for Research into Indigenous and Maori Education 1997-2000
- Professor of Education, School of Education, University of Auckland 1997-2000
- Member, Te Waka Toi Board, Creative New Zealand Arts Council of New Zealand 1997-2003
- Member, National Maori Police Focus Forum, New Zealand Police National Headquarters 1998-1998
- Professor, International Research Institute for Maori and Indigenous Education, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland 1998-1998
- Member, Waitangi Tribunal 1999-1999
- Patron, 184 Recruit Wing, Royal New Zealand Police College 1999-1999
- Member, Tutahitanga Maori/Police Joint Planning Committee for Waitakere City, North Shore City and Rodney County
- Inaugural Chairperson, Te Roopu Whaiti, Maori Education Authority – Te Manatu Matauranga Maori 2000-2000
- Member, National Maori Advisory Committee, Ministry of Culture and Heritage 2001-2001
- Adjunct Professor, UNITEC, Auckland 2001-2001
- Member, Mayors Task Force on Tertiary Education, Waitakere City 2001-2001
- Member, Council of Creative New Zealand 2001-2001
- Member, Graduate School Advisory Board, UNITEC 2001-2001
- Member, West Auckland Community Care Trust 2002-
- Member, MOVE, Dance Foundation Trust Board, Auckland University of Technology 2002-
- Director, Arapita Ltd 6 August 2003-
- Director, Paerangi Ltd Education Board 2005-
- Maori Cultural Consultant
Awards
- National Male Leader, Kapa Haka Aotearoa Maori Traditional Performing Arts, for five separate years
- Tohunga Tu Taua - Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa 1985
- Kaitataki Tane Award, National Male Leader, Kapa Haka Aotearoa Maori Traditional Performing Arts 2000
- Tohunga Huarewa, Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu, Massey University 2001
Community activities
- Educational conferences, USA, England, Ireland, France, New Guinea, Australia, Canada, Philippines and the Pacific Islands International
- Facilitator, Cultural and Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Samoa International
- Member, advisory committee to the Director General of UNESCO on the study of Culture in the Pacific for 14 years International
- New Zealand representative, cultural and trade missions, USA, Canada, Spain, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia, Hawaii, England, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Caledonia, Tahiti. International
- Member, Committee for the Review of Security within Mental Health Institutions, Ministry of Health National
- Member, Committee for the Review of Security within Prisons, Dept of Justice National
- Member, advisory committee to Education Review Office National
- Member, Kura Kaupapa Maori Nation Curriculum Development Board National
- Chairperson, Maori Cultural Committee on Prisons, Department of Justice National
- Member, Ministerial Working Party in Education, Teacher Training National
- Trustee, National Maori Nurses Association for 14 years National
- Deputy Chairperson, NZ Polynesian Festival Committee for 16 years National
- Member, NZ Polynesian Festival Committee for 25 years National
- Trustee, New Zealand Education Foundation National
- Member, advisory committee to State Services National
- Chairperson, Te Runanga Kura Kaupapa Maori O Aotearoa Inc Soc National
- Member, Tomorrows Schools Working Party, Integrated Schools National
- Member, Tomorrows Schools Working Party, Kura Kaupapa Maori National
- Member, Working Party in Education, Race Relations in schools National
- Justice of the Peace National 1978-
- Sacerdotal Head and Master, Te Runanga Tu Taua Mau Taiaha O Aotearoa, National School of Maori Weaponry National 1983-
- Member, Aorangi Trust Board Regional
- Chairperson, Auckland Maori Festival Committee Regional
- Chairperson, Hoani Waititi Marae Committee Inc Soc for 24 years Regional
- Member, Matipo Primary School Committee Regional
- Coordinator, Nga Herenga Waka Community Initiative National
- Member, Queen Victoria School Board of Governors for 10 years Regional
- Chairperson, Restorative Justice Alternative Court Programme Regional
- Member, Rutherford High School Board of Governors for 12 years Regional
- Volunteer Student Counsellor, Rutherford High School for 10 years Regional
- Member, Te Atatu Intermediate School Committee Regional
- Member, Te Atatu Maori Welfare Committee for 18 years Regional
- Member, Te Kura o Hoani Waititi Marae Board of Trustees Regional
- Trustee, Te Pikiora Maori Health Trust Regional
- Trustee, Te Putea Atawhai Maori Health Trust Regional
- Leader, Te Roopu Manutaki Maori Culture Group for 28 years Regional
- Member, Te Runanga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tamaki Makaurau Regional
- Founder, Te Toi Huarewa Education for Life Programme Regional
- Chairperson, Te Whanau o Tamaki Makaurau Federation of Maori Cultural Groups, Auckland for 25 years Regional
- Foundation Trustee, Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust Regional
- Chairperson, Te Runanganui o Ngati Kahungunu for 8 years Regional 1981-1990
- Member, Advisory Committee on Maori Education, Department of Education, Auckland Regional 1968-1969
- Member, Sky City Community Trust Board Regional 1996-
Authorised by Fiona Rore of 4 Nikau Place, Murupara
- 2011
Tāmaki Makaurau
Results - Progress
| Name | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| 18975 | ||
| 5435 | ||
| 2427 | ||
| 1235 |
