Āpirana Ngata, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Āpirana Ngata

New Zealand politician and lawyer

Date of Birth: 03-Jul-1874

Place of Birth: Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand

Date of Death: 14-Jul-1950

Profession: lawyer, politician, jurist, historian

Nationality: New Zealand

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata (3 July 1874 – 14 July 1950) was a prominent New Zealand statesman.
He has often been described as the foremost Maori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Maori culture and language. Ngata practiced as a lawyer before entering politics in 1897, when he established the Young Maori Party alongside numerous alumni of Te Aute College, including future fellow cabinet minister Maui Pomare.
Here he challenged the traditional views of his people, advocating the abandonment of some traditional practices and customary healing in favour of science and Pakeha-style sanitation, which made him a controversial figure.
In 1905, he was elected the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastern Maori, retaining this seat for nearly 40 years.
He served in government as Minister of Native Affairs from 1928 to 1934.
In this he tried to accomplish as many reforms for Maori as possible, although he was forced to resign as minister in a widely publicised spending scandal.
Nevertheless, he continued to serve as MP for Eastern Maori until he was ousted in 1943 by Ratana candidate (affiliated with Labour) Tiaki Omana, as Labour swept the Maori seats.
Now aged 69, he returned to his Ngati Porou home 129 kilometres north of Gisborne, where he lived with his four sons and four daughters, and multiple grandchildren, until his death seven years later.