Henare Kohere Ngata

Ngāti Porou

1917 -

Henare Ngata was born at Waiomatatini in 1917, the son of Apirana and Arihia Ngata. He was educated in Waiomatatini Native School and Te Aute College where he matriculated in 1934. Ngata continued his studies at Victoria University and from 1938 - 1939 worked as an announcer for the National Broadcasting Service. He married Rora (Lorna) Mete Kingi and had one son called Apirana. In November 1939 Ngata enlisted and served overseas in the 28th Māori Battalion. He was a prisoner of war in Greece from When Ngata returned to New Zealand he resumed his studies at Victoria University and graduated with B.A./B.Com in Economics in 1948. From his graduation until his retiredment in 1990, Ngata worked as a chartered accountant in Gisborne. Ngata was a member of the New Zealand Māori Council from its inception in 1962 until 1985; during this time wrote a number of articles and speeches on the Treaty of Waitangi. He has been involved professionally and personally with Māori land incorporations in Gisborne. Ngata was awarded the OBE in 1967. The University of Victoria presented him with an Honorary Doctorate of Law in 1979 and in 1982 he received a knighthood. Ngata has written non-fiction articles, submissions and papers which have been published in various journals and publications. In the 1970s he wrote an article on Māori gangs which was published in the Gisborne Church of England publication at the request of Rev. John Black.

Biographical sources

  • Phone conversation and correspondence with Sir Henare Ngata, Aug. 1998, and 26 July 2004.
  • Ngata, henare Kohere, "Guest Editorial: South African Rugby Tour." Te Kaunihera Māori: New Zealand Māori Council Journal Autumn (1969): 3.
  • Ramsden, Eric. Sir Apirana Ngata and Māori Culture. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, 1948.

    Non-fiction

  • "My Father and Te Aute." The Story of Te Aute College. R. R. Alexander. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, 1951. 211-212.
  • "Guest Editorial: South African Rugby Tour." Te Kaunihera Māori: New Zealand Māori Council Journal Autumn (1969): 3.
  • Ngata gives an account of the New Zealand Māori Council’s support of the proposed 1970 All Black tour of South Africa.
  • "Land Grievances and the Treaty." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 2.4 (July/Aug. 1971): 7-9.
  • In this text of Ngata’s address to the New Zealand Māori Graduates’ Association Conference at Waiwhetu Marae, Wellington, N.Z., Ngata gives a comprehensive outline of the many land grievances of the Māori people, including unjust legislation, land confiscations, conversion of title, minority sales and artificial values.
  • "The Laws That Contravene the Treaty of Waitangi." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 2.6 (Dec/Jan 1972): 19-23. Rpt. in Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council (Dec/Jan 1972). Rpt. in He Kōrero Mo Waitangi, 1984: He Tohu Aroha, Ki Nga Tupuna: Talk, Conciliate, and Heal. Ed. Arapera Blank, Manuka Henare and Haare Williams. Foreword by Manuhuia Bennett. [Ngaruawahia], N.Z.: Te Runanga o Waitangi, Jan. 1985. 134-144.
  • This report by Ngata was compiled at the request of the then Minister of Māori Affairs, Mr MacIntyre, who in June 1971 invited the New Zealand Māori Council to present its views of the Treaty of Waitangi and to indicate ‘the parts of the present statutory law which in the Council’s opinion are in contravention of the Treaty.’ Ngata provides a concise and systematic account of various sections of the Māori Affairs Act 1953 and its 1967 Amendment that the Council believe contravene the Treaty. He discusses breaches of Treaty provisions in the Māori Trustee Act 1953, Public Works Act 1928, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941, Town and Country Planning Act 1953, Counties Amendment Act 1961, Petroleum Act 1937, and issues concerning the settlement of claims, confiscations, and perpetual leases.
  • "The Treaty of Waitangi and Land. Parts of the Current Law in Contravention of the Treaty." University Extension Publication 7, 1972. No further details.
  • Ngata writes that this was a paper ‘presented at a Seminar on the Treaty of Waitangi at Victoria University of Wellington, N.Z., 19 February 1972.’ Ngata adds ‘The three papers on the Treaty reflect the reawakening of interest in the Treaty on the part of Māori groups including the NZMC, Nga Tama Toa, academics and Government which ultimately culminated in the Labour Government enacting the legislation which set up the Tribunal in 1975.’
  • "A Screen designed by Sir Apirana Ngata, carved by John Taiapa, with Tukutuku made by Mrs. Hinewaka Paenga and Mrs Hene Te Kira around 1948. Mau Mahara: Our Stories in Craft. Based on the Exhibition. Selected by Justine Olsen, John Parker, and Cliff Whiting from a concept devised and developed by Jim and Mary Barr. Organised by the Crafts Council of New Zealand. Official New Zealand 1990 Project. Auckland, N.Z.: Random Century, 1990. 8-11.
  • Ngata explains the history of this screen which Sir Apirana Ngata designed for American Ambassador, Avra Warren, in 1947.

    • Other

  • "Letter." Sir Apirana Ngata and Māori Culture. Eric Ramsden. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, 1948. 13-16.
  • This is part of a private letter to Eric Ramsden from Henare Ngata which was subsequently published in Ramsden’s biography of Sir Apirana Ngata.
  • Submissions on the Town and County Planning Act. 16 May 1973. No further details.
  • Ngata writes: ‘Paper prepared on behalf of the New Zealand Māori Council at the suggestion of the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon. M. Rata.’ This paper was published in Te Māori in the early 1970s.

    • Papers/Presentations

  • "The Treaty of Waitangi." Te Runanga o Turanga-a-Kiwa, Gisborne, N.Z.: 26 Nov. 1988.
  • Paper prepared at the invitation of Te Runanga o Turanga-a-Kiwa in Gisborne and presented on 26 November 1988 which was later broadcast on National Radio, 2YA.

    • Sound recordings

  • MPT 160.
  • ‘Treaty of Waitangi - An excellent address given by Mr Henare Kohere Ngata of Gisborne at the 1971 Māori graduates conference in the Waiwhetu Meeting House. 28’00".’
  • MPT 161.
  • ‘Mr Henare Kohere Ngata continues from previous tape.’
  • MPT 554.
  • ‘Ministerial welcome at Poho-O-Rawiri marae, Gisborne, 21.2.65. Speakers include Hetekia Te Kani. Matu Rangi, Henare Ngata.’
  • MPT 555.
  • ‘Continuation of previous tape.’
  • MPT 684.
  • ‘1966 - Māori Incorporations hui in Gisborne - 1 of 4 - Henare Ngata.’
  • MPT 763.
  • ‘1966 Governor General’s visit to Ruatoria - Ngata College/Henare Ngata - 1 of 4.’
  • MPT 1720.
  • ‘Henare Kohere Ngata - Treaty of Waitangi/Māori land - undated.’
  • MPT 2874.
  • ‘Uepohatu War Memorial Hall, Ruatoria - opening.’
  • MPT 4891.
  • ‘NZ Māori Artists and Writers Conference. Powhiri - Mane Tatare, Sir Henare Ngata, John Ruru, Wi Tarei. Karakia - Hare Reneti. Song - Po Po.’
  • MPT 5172.
  • ‘Sir Henare Kohere Ngata speaks about the Treaty of Waitangi. Sir Henare’s address was delivered in the Mangatu Office in Gisborne. This programme is part one of a two part series - refer also to 5173. 30.11.88.’
  • MPT 1818.
  • ‘Henare Kohere Ngata at Māori Graduates Conference - possibly 1971.’
  • MPT 1697 + 1698.
  • ‘Treaty of Waitangi seminar - Victoria University - Feb 1972. Henare Ngata.’
  • MPT 3522.
  • ‘Māori Welcome to Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh extended by Tairawhiti in 1977, Rugby Park, Gisborne. Speaker include Henare Kohere Ngata/Kingi Ihaka as Chairman of the NZ Polynesian Festival Committee - Compere - Wiremu Kerekere. Speech by H[er] M[ajesty] the Queen. 22.2.86.’
  • MPT 4843.
  • ‘Eruera Manuera, Rangi Mete-Kingi, Henare Kohere Ngata - honorary doctorates - welcome at Ngāti Poneke. Waara Katene, Fred Katene, Graham Latimer. 8.8.79.’
  • MPT 3281.
  • ‘Henare Kohere Ngata and Api Mahuika on land co-ops and multiple ownership. 9.8.80.’
  • MPT 2822.
  • ‘1981 Ngāti Porou Kaumatua Wananga held at Porourangi, Waiomatatini - 4 tapes - 1/includes Api Mahuika, Apirana Crawford, Henare Kohere Ngata, Petuere Raroa, Tamati Reedy. (Outside). Tipene Ngata, Peta Kaua, Heeni Sutherland, Whaia McLutchie, Henare Kohere Ngata. (And again on Mpt 2824).’
  • MPT 3352.
  • ‘New Zealand Māori Artists and Writers Annual Hui. Held in the Gisborne district during Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Speakers: Mr Wiremu Parker and Sir Henare Kohere Ngata. 12.6.82.’
  • MPT 3369.
  • ‘The 1982 Korimako and Pei Te Hurinui Jones Contest. Gisborne was this year’s venue. Sir Henare Ngata officially opens the contest. He briefly outlines part of the Gisborne district. 16.10.82.’
  • MPT 3391.
  • ‘Welcome to their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales at Poho-O-Rawiri marae, Gisborne. Includes welcoming ‘karanga’, and Sir Henare Kohere Ngata’s speech of welcome (read by Henare Te Ua). 30.4.85.
  • MPT 3484.
  • ‘Sir Henare Ngata speaks to the University Māori Graduates in Wellington, N.Z. 4.5.85.’
  • MPT 3526.
  • ‘Māoridoms’ Welcome to H[er] M[ajesty] the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Nelson Park, Hastings 25.2.86. Includes speech by Sir Hepi Te Heu Heu in Māori and English and kinaki by Tuwharetoa, led by Sir Hepi - Haka Wairangi/Speech by Sir Henare Kohere Ngata representing Te Tairawhiti - Māori and English - refers to Article 3 of the Treaty of Waitangi.’
  • MPT 3867.
  • ‘Tape 3 of 7 - continued - Ingrid Serancke 1. Who’s telling present Māori Affairs staff they have no jobs? 2. What happens to Minister of Māori Affairs? 3. Political Power. Koro replies. Rest of tape Don Hunn, Chief Commissioner, State Services Commission. Side Two: Don Hunn Continues. 2. Sir Henry Ngata (in Māori) 3. Tamati Reedy (in Māori). 14.5.88.’

    Other

  • Taylor, C. R. H. A Bibliography of Publications on the New Zealand Māori and the Moriori of the Chatham Islands. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, Oxford UP, 1972. (Addenda. 129).