apirana ngata

Badges of Māori units

Major changes were made to the nature and form of Maori military service in late 1915 and early 1916. The Native Contingent ceased to exist and was replaced by the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion, sometimes referred to now as the Pioneer Maori Battalion.

Maori and scenic reserves

Maori had mixed feelings about the Scenery Preservation Act 1903. Politician Hone Heke Ngapua welcomed it as a way to protect totara and prevent the loss of more kauri forest, but he objected to the way compensation was made available to Maori. The value of Maori lands, he argued, should be assessed not by the Native Land Court but by the same courts that assessed general lands.

Maori in the House

Important leaders of Maori society have represented their people in the House: Maui Pomare, James Carroll, Matiu Rata and, most famously, Apirana Ngata. These and other men – and they were all men until 1949 when Iriaka Ratana was elected – could be lonely Maori voices in a Pakeha-dominated House. It was not until the 1980s and the later introduction of mixed member proportional representation (MMP) in 1996 that more Maori entered the House and represented electorates other than traditional Maori seats.

Apirana Ngata leading a haka at the 1940 centennial celebrations at Waitangi. The meeting house, Waitangi House, is on the left.

Ngati Porou leader and politician Apirana Ngata is one of New Zealand's best-known figures. Working through traditional tribal structures and as MP for Eastern Maori, he pressed for state-funded Maori land development. His wider aim was to strengthen Maori communities and revive Maori culture.

Hēnare Balneavis became private secretary to Āpirana Ngata, and continued in this role when Ngata became Native Minister. He went on to serve as private secretary to a number of Native Ministers including W. H. Herries, Gordon Coates, George Forbes and M. J. Savage.