George Asher was born in Tokaanu and was educated at Kuratau Māori Primary School and St Stephen’s School, Bombay. He studied at the University of Otago and graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology and Education, and in 1981 graduated with a Bachelor of Town Planning from Auckland University. From 1980-82 he was employed as a town planner by the Auckland City Council and from 1982-85 worked for the New Zealand Planning Council to ‘facilitate advice on matters relating to Māori social, cultural, economic and land development.’ Asher subsequently worked at the Department of Māori Affairs as senior planner and is currently working in Turangi as Trust Manager for the Lake Taupo Forest Trust and the Rotoaira Forest Trust.
Biographical sources
- Email correspondence from Sandy Gibbison, 23 Mar. 2004.
- Phone conversation with George Asher, 28 July 1998.
- Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 1.1 (Winter Issue [1969?]): 42-45.
- Tu Tangata 31 (Aug./Sept. 1986): 62.
Non-fiction
- "Reflections." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 1.1 (Winter Issue [1969?]): 42-47.
- Co-authors Rolland H. Wright and Geroge Tamakino Asher.
- Māori Planning Kit. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland, N.Z. Māori Coordinating Committee, 1982.
- Co-authors Pauline Kingi and George Asher.
- "What The Manukau Claim Means In Town And Country Planning Terms." Tu Tangata 27 (Dec. 1985/Jan. 1986): 44-45.
- Asher writes of Māori interests not being recognised by town planning legislation in respect to the Manukau claim before the Waitangi Tribunal.
- Māori Land. Planning Paper No. 29, March 1987. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Planning Council, 1987.
- Co-authors George Asher and David Naulls.