Rangimarie Takurua was born in Rotorua and was educated at Westbrook Primary School, Rotorua and then concurrently studied at Te Wai Pounamu Girls’ College and Avonside Girls’ High School. She attended Massey University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies degree in 1985. After graduation she worked for a short period with the Māori Trust Office and spent a year on secondment training in the Development Finance Corporation before taking up a position in the newly established Māori Development Corporation. There she worked as Account Manager for the South Island, Palmerston North, and Ngāti Tuwharetoa districts. This was followed by a period of overseas travel and work in the Corporate Finance Division of New Japan Securities Europe Ltd, London. She spent six months in France and then returned to Wellington to work for Te Puni Kokiri. In 1992 she began working for the Ngāi Tahu Trust Board in Christchurch where she held the position of Investment Manager for five years. Rangimarie then left this position to spend time at home with her daughter. In 1998 she returned to the newly formed Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu where she currently holds the position of Policy Co-ordinator. She writes non-fiction articles only on request.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence with Parata 4 Dec, 1992 and 28 July 1998.
- "Attitudes." Puna Wairere: Essays by Māori. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Planning Council/Te Kaunihera Whakakaupapa mo Aotearoa, 1990. 71-80.
Non-fiction
- "Attitudes." Puna Wairere: Essays by Māori. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Planning Council/Te Kaunihera Whakakaupapa mo Aotearoa, 1990. 71-80.
- In this autobiographical paper Parata looks at aspects of her identity as a young Māori businesswoman.
- "Rangimarie Parata." Mana Wahine: Women Who Show The Way. Ed. Amy Brown. Photographs by Jocelyn Carlin. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1994. 128-135.
- Parata discusses important influences and role models in her life, education and career, and articulates the various issues she has had to confront as a young Māori woman in the corporate business world.
Other
- "He Iwi." Tu Tangata 20 (1984): 20.
- Short article on Parata’s selection to be New Zealand’s representative at the 16th Triennial Conference of the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association in August 1984.
- "Rangimarie Is Back On Her Own Patch." Te Māori News Nov. 1992: 14.
- Barber, David. "Securing The Future." Management Feb. (1993): 38.