Bruce Gregory was born in Kaingaroa and was educated at Pukepoto Native School and Kaitaia College. He studied medicine at Otago University and graduated with MBChB in 1967. Gregory worked in general practice in Kaitaia for some twenty years and then went into politics. In 1981 he was elected MP for Northern Māori, a seat he held for fourteen years. In 1993 he retired from politics and subsequently was involved in health, iwi and political issues. He held memberships of the N.Z. Council of Social Services, New Zealand Māori Council, Northern Advisory Health Committee, Kaitaia College Board of Governors, and the Kaitaia Regional Museum. He was a Chair of Tai Tokerau District Māori Council and founder of the Far North Credit Union. He was a member of Te Rarawa Marae and of the Te Tai Tokerau M.A.P.O. He was Chairman or Kaiarahi of Te Taumata Kaumatua o Ngapuhi-nui-Tonu and was involved in the Seashore and Seabed debate. He was involved in several Māori trusts including Te Weronui Trust which encourages young Māori, through te reo, history, and carving, to obtain self-employment in these areas. Gregory was involved with Māori language research under the James Henare Research Centre at Auckland University. He was also very interested in all Māori musical instruments and their manufacture and studied Koauau Toroa Albatross flutes at the Dunedin Museum. Gregory wrote a number of non-fiction articles and letters which were published in newspapers including the Northland Age, Northern Advocate and The Herald. Gregory’s view on the function of the marae was published in Te Māori.
He also wrote poetry and stated he was “indulging” in painting and carving and had an exhibition in Whangarei.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Dr Bruce Gregory, 10 June 2004.
Non-fiction
- "The Thames Māori Culture Group." Te Ao Hou 62 (1968): 50-52.
- Gregory discusses a handicraft exhibition by members of the Thames Māori Culture Group and other Māori artists of the Coromandel Peninsula area which was held in December 1967. He gives a brief history of the group which began in early 1967.
- "Tamatoa Group Supported." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 2.3 (1971): 6-7.
- Gregory presents a case in support of the actions of Nga Tamatoa during the 1971 Waitangi Day formalities, and argues that their actions caused Māoridom to reconsider Treaty issues and to push for ratification of the Treaty.
Other
- Bruce C. Gregory. Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 1.2 (1969): 29-31.
- A lengthy and thoughtful discussion on the implications of the invitation by the South African Rugby Union for an All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in 1970.
- "Excluded or Assimilated." Northland Age 4 May 2004. No further details.
- "Treaty." Northern Advocate 6 May 2004. No further details.
Other
- Labour Māori Candidates." Tu Tangata 3 (1981): 10.