Māui Pōmare, of Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti 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 Kākahi, and sometimes resided at their Parihaka settlement. Pomare was present at Parihaka when it was invaded and destroyed by the Armed Constabulary in 1881.
Leaders of Maori society have represented their people in the House, including Maui Pomare, James Carroll, Matiu Rata and, most famously, Apirana Ngata.
