Maui Wiremu Piti Naera Pomare

Maui Pomare, of Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Toa, was born in 1875 or 1876. His mother, Mere Hautonga Nicoll, was the daughter of Kahe Te Rau-o-te-rangi, one of the few women to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. His parents were followers of the pacifist prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi, and sometimes resided at their Parihaka settlement. Pomare was present at Parihaka when it was invaded and destroyed by the Armed Constabulary in 1881.

He was educated at Te Aute College, where he was taught about modern theories of hygiene, promoted by James Pope, the Inspector of Native Schools. He came to believe that many aspects of Maori culture conflicted with health and hygiene. This view did not appeal to traditional Maori leaders.

In 1893 Pomare left to study in the United States. He attended the American Medical Missionary College in Chicago, and graduated MD in 1899, returning to New Zealand the following year.

In 1900 there were fears of a bubonic plague, and the government addressed the problem of substandard hygiene and housing in the main centres and rural Maori settlements. Pomare became Maori Medical Officer in 1901. District Maori Councils were also set up to prepare regulations on sanitation and hygiene. Pomare travelled widely, inspecting water supplies and sanitary arrangements, and advising the Maori Councils. He became a skilled speaker when visiting Maori communities, which helped him break through the conservative attitudes of many older tribal leaders. He actively sought to remove the influence of tohunga (traditional healers), and supported the Tohunga Suppression Act of 1907. He believed assimilation into Pakeha society presented the best hope for the Maori people.

After 1907 the government lost interest in health reform and cut back funding for the Maori Councils. As a result the Councils stopped much of their work, and Pomare was transferred to the Native Department.

In 1911 he was elected to Parliament representing Western Maori. When Massey's Reform government came to power in 1912 he was made a member of the Executive Council representing Maori. He was unable to win major health reforms, although he tried hard to settle Taranaki land claims. He was knighted in 1922.

In 1923 he became Minister of Health. As Minister he introduced maternity hospitals and new medical techniques. This significantly reduced infant and maternal mortality among both Maori and Europeans.

Working with Apirana Ngata and others he was instrumental in setting up the Sim Commission, which inquired into land confiscations (raupatu) in 1927. The Commission, although working with limited terms of reference, upheld many longstanding grievances arising from the raupatu. Pomare died in 1930.

See also: biography of Maui Pomare at DNZB website