Graham Stanley Latimer

Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa

1926 - 2016

Graham Latimer was born in Waiharara and was educated at Kaitaia District School from In 1942 he enlisted in the army and worked with the 77th Divisional Cavalry in Japan. After the war he worked for fifteen years with the New Zealand Railways and in the 1950s was appointed a Māori warden. He married Emily Patricia Moore in 1948 and had five children. He has worked as a farmer in joint partnership with his wife. He was vice-president of the New Zealand Māori Council from 1970-73 and president from 1973. Latimer is chair of Te Rima Farms Ltd, Aotearoa Fisheries, Tai Tokerau Māori Trust Board and Māori International. He helped to establish the Tai Tokerau Māori District Council and in 1983 was awarded KBE for services to the Māori people.

Biographical sources

  • New Zealand Who’s Who Aotearoa 1998 Edition. Auckland, N.Z.: New Zealand Who’s Who Publications Limited, 1998. 445.
  • Rakete, Hiria. "Sir Graham Latimer Leads N.Z. Māori Council." Tu Tangata 25 (1985): 16.

    Non-fiction

  • "Latimer Looks Back at 1970." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 2.2 (1971): 41.
  • Extracts from Latimer’s annual report of the Tai Tokerau District Council.
  • "Priority: Retention of Māori Land." Te Māori (1979/80): 21.
  • "The Dangers of Protest: Māori Council President Graham Latimer Sounds a Warning." Te Māori (1980): 25.
  • Latimer comments on issues highlighted by Matiu Rata’s resignation and also lists measures taken by the New Zealand Māori Council to address inequities facing Māori.
  • "Putting the Record Straight: An Angry Māori Council States its Case to the Electoral Role Subcommittee." Te Māori (1980): 43-45.
  • "Springbok Tour: A Firm No." Te Māori (1980): 41.
  • "1980: The Enthusiasm of Our People." Te Māori (1980/81): 32.

  • Other

  • "Apanui Watene." Tu Tangata 9 (1983): 36.
  • Latimer recalls his first meeting with Watene and his tireless work for the Māori.

    Other

  • Bell, Terry. "Māoridom’s New Leader." Te Māori 5.2 (1973): 5-10.
  • A profile of Latimer on his appointment as new president of the New Zealand Māori Council.
  • Harrison, Noel. Graham Latimer: A Biography. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 2002.
  • "Success Story of a Māori Dairy Farmer." Northern Advocate 5 Aug 1966. Rpt. in Te Kaunihera Māori: New Zealand Māori Council Journal 1.2 (1966): 28-29, 31.
  • Traces Latimer’s success in transforming his 161 acres of dairy farm into an output of butterfat which expanded from 13,300 lb to 27,140 lb in five seasons. Includes biographical details too.
  • Rakete, Hiria. "Sir Graham Latimer leads N. Z. Māori Council." Tu Tangata 25 (1985): 16.
  • A profile on Sir Graham Latimer.