He was born in Michigan and moved to Vancouver, Canada at the age of four. He underwent his primary schooling in Canada and at the age of twelve returned to Otaki and later to Wellington he studied at Wellington Boys’ High School. He studied Medicine in Wellington and in 1985 took up the post of tumuaki Māori (formerly known as Māori vice-president of the New Zealand University Students’ Association). He has a B.MA [hons] in Māori Administration from Wananga o Raukawa and Māori Studies at Victoria. He currently works in the Māori Studies Department at Victoria University as a lecturer/pukenga. He has been awarded MEF (Māori Education Foundation) and Tribal Trust Scholarships. He has written a number of reports for different organizations. While Māori President, he wrote reports for tribal trusts on land blocks and various submissions to Broadcasting Tribunal and Waitangi Tribunal. He is currently writing a Masters thesis on waka toa. He was involved with the 1990 waka activities. He is kaitiaki of Te Aniwaniwa Waka of Te Ati Awa. In September/October, 1992, at the South Pacific Festival of Arts in Rotorua, he sailed a double hulled canoe from Wellington using traditional navigation.
Biographical sources
- Interview with Winiata on 10 Aug, 1992.
- Winiata, Pakake. “Māori Studnets Face A Lonely Track.” Tu Tangata 24 (1985): 42.
Other
- "Māori Students Face A Lonely Track." Tu Tangata 24 (1985): 42.
- Discusses Pakake’s role as tumuaki Māori, Māori vice-president of the New Zealand University Student’s Association, and his desire with others to form a national association of Māori university students and a runanga rangatahi (Māori youth council).
- "The Crew’s Story." Mana 2 (Apr./May 1993): 38-39.
- Interview with Te Aturangi Clamp and Pakake Winiata concerning the Aurere voyage.
- Report of the Māori Working Party to the Equity Committee,Tertiary Assistance Grants Review. P. Winiata et al. Unpublished report. 1985.