Pita Sharples
Pita Russell Sharples | |
|---|---|
 Pita Sharples in 2010 | |
| 41st Minister of Māori Affairs | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Parekura Horomia |
| Co-leader of the Māori Party | |
| Assumed office 7 July 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau | |
| Assumed office 2005 | |
| Preceded by | John Tamihere |
| Majority | 2127 (11.11%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 July 1941 Waipawa, Hawke's Bay |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Māori Party |
| Occupation | Professor |
| Website | http://www.pitasharples.co.nz/ |
Pita Russell Sharples, CBE (born Peter Russell Sharples,[1] 20 July 1941), a Māori academic and politician, co-leads the Māori Party. He is the member for Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland City) in New Zealand's Parliament.
Early life
Sharples, was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke's Bay.[2] His mother Ruiha was of Ngati Kahungunu, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton, United Kingdom.[3]
He received his early education at Waipukurau District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College. His four years there culminated in him becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life.[4] He then attended the University of Auckland, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, working as a Professor of Education. He subsequently gained an MA (1st class) in Anthropology, and later a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics – both also from the University of Auckland.[5]
Member of Parliament
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Tamaki Makaurau | 2 | Māori Party | |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Tāmaki Makaurau | 2 | Māori Party | |
| 2011 – present | 50th | Tāmaki Makaurau | 8 | Māori Party | |
In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Māori political party. After the foreshore and seabed controversy flared in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia, a minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples began to organise a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru seat. This eventually was launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party, of which Sharples became co-leader.
In the general election of September 2005, Sharples contested and won the seat of Tamaki Makaurau, the Māori electorate covering urban Auckland, displacing former Labour MP John Tamihere.
Minister of Māori Affairs
In the 2008 general election Sharples was re-elected with a majority of more than 7000.[6] The National Party won most seats overall and formed a minority government with support from the Māori Party, Act New Zealand and United Future. Sharples was made Minister of Māori Affairs, although like other support party members he remained outside Cabinet.[7] Dr Sharples was returned to parliament in the 2011 general election, and is the only current New Zealand MP to be over the age of 70.
Notes
- ^ "Sharples continues rapid rise in politics". National Business Review. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ "Dr Pita Sharples". Parliament of New Zealand.
- ^ [1], Te Karaka, Spring 2004, page 9
- ^ "Inspiring mana", Magggie Barry, The Listener, 2007
- ^ Hon Dr Pita Sharples, beehive.govt.nz
- ^ Tamaki Makaurau results 2008.
- ^ Trevett, Claire (17 November 2008). "Maori Party takes 'sensible position'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
External links
- Pita Sharples MP official site
- Profile at Māori Party
- Profile at New Zealand Parliament
- Releases and speeches at Beehive.govt.nz
- "Pita Sharples", TV documentary
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Use dmy dates from October 2011
- 1941 births
- Living people
- Māori Party MPs
- New Zealand activists
- New Zealand political party leaders
- Ngāti Kahungunu
- University of Auckland alumni
- New Zealand academics
- People from the Hawke's Bay Region
- People educated at Te Aute College
- New Zealand MPs for Māori electorates
- New Zealand people of English descent
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire