Thompson Parore was born in Dargaville and was educated at Dargaville District High School. He qualified as a chartered accountant at Victoria University and also has a post-graduate diploma in Public Administration and a Diploma in Business Management. Parore is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.
In 1989 Parore retired after forty years of Government service. He has subsequently been a full-time voluntary worker for Te Runanga o Ngāti Whatua and has also served time as its chairman. He is closely involved with Terenga Paraoa Marae at Whangarei and Te Houhanga Marae in Dargaville; he chairs the trustees for both marae. He is also aligned with the Takahiwai Marae near Marsden Point south of Whangarei. Parore has had a close association with the Northland Regional Council Community Trust since its inception. He is chairman of the James Henare Research Centre Advisory Board at Auckland University and Tihi Ora, the health purchasing organization.
Parore has performed at the National Māori Cultural festivals for Ngāti Poneke (Wellington) and Takirau (Whangarei). He led the New Zealand China Friendship Society VIP Group to China in 1990, and was Kaumatua for the Ngāti Poneke Group cultural tours to Italy, Spain and Australia in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He has been patron of Te Ropu Rangimarie Cultural Group in Whangarei since 1997.
Parore writes non-fiction articles and publications, and has contributed to a number of publications that were produced cooperatively by staff at the Whangarei Office of the Department of Māori Affairs during the 1980s. These included publications for the various conferences for the Forestry Council and proposals for progress 1984, Kia Kokiri. In 1990 Parore was awarded the QSO Commemoration medal.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Parore 19 February and 19 August 1998, 29 July 2004 and 23 August 2005.
- Non-fiction Articles
Non-fiction
- "Māori land and forestry: development in Taitokerau." New Zealand Journal of Forestry 28.2 (1983): 255-262.
- In this discussion on Māori land and its utilisation, Parore writes of the benefits of the forestry industry and discusses his role with the Department of Māori Affairs in Whangarei as a Māori Trustee representative administering various Māori land development projects.
- Kia Kokiri: Proposals for Progress of the Māori People of Taitokerau. Whangarei, N.Z.: Dept. of Māori Affairs, Apr. 1984.
- This was the work of staff of the Department under Parore’s supervision.
- Treaty of Waitangi Hui, Waitangi, 4-6 February 1985: Report of proceedings. Whangarei, N.Z.: Hui Steering Committee, 1985.
- Co-edited with Russell Wells and John Booth.
- Māori Land & Forestry: Financing Of Forest Development On Māori Land (Land With Fragmented Ownership]. Whangarei, N.Z.: Dept. of Māori Affairs, [1985].
- In this paper presented at the University of Canterbury on 22 August 1985, Parore dispels various myths concerning Māori land, writes of the area of Māori land in forestry and notes the implications of the Treaty of Waitangi in Māori land dealing. He discusses Māori attitudes to the land, lists the specific objectives of Māori Land Development and writes of the role of Māori Affairs in the Taitokerau region in dealing with the New Zealand Forest Service and forest companies. He describes various financial options for Māori landowners.
- "Māori land development - reflecting the changing face of the 80s." Growing Today 3.6 (June/July 1986): 19-20.
- Parore provides a brief overview of developments in Māoridom during the 20th century and discusses the past and present utilisation of Māori land with specific reference to the Rangihamama development scheme at Kaikohe and other new initiatives and potential development in the north.
- Introduction. He Pepeha, He whakatauk˚ no Taitokerau. Comp. Jane McRae. Whangarei, N.Z.: Dept. of Māori Affairs, 1987.
- "Māori: view from the land." Parks and Recreation 5.1 (Feb. 1990): 16+.
- "The Mana, the Dignity and the Freedom: Te Runanga o Ngāti Whatua." Whenua: Managing Our Resources. Ed. Merata Kawharu. Foreword by Hirini Paerangi Matunga. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 2002. No further details.
Papers/Presentations
- "Māori land development reflecting the changing face of the 80’s." No details.
- "Māori Land And Forestry Development In Taitokerau." New Zealand Institute of Foresters (Inc) Annual Conf. Whangarei, N.Z.: 9-13 May 1983.
- "Socio-Economic Impacts of Forestry on Māori Land: Opportunities and Constraints." 56th ANZASS Conf.Massey University, Palmerston North, N.Z. Jan. 1984.
- "A Māori View on Native and Exotic Forestry in Taitokerau." Apr. 1985.
Other
- "Frederick Bennett Katene." Tu Tangata 21 (Dec 1984/Jan 1985): 20-21.
- A detailed biography of one of the key figures in the founding and running of Ngāti Poneke - Frederick Katene who died in 1984 aged 87. Originally published as a Saturday Profile in the Evening Post under T. Parore and subsequently reproduced virtually unchanged under someone else’s name in one of the Māori magazines of the time. The publication in Tu Tangata properly credited to T. Parore, made some amends for this.
- "Trustees Offer Wide Range Of Experience." Northern Advocate 14 Mar. 1994: 8
- "Services To Māori Rewarded." Northern Advocate 11 June 1994: 2.
- Wilson, Tim. "Māori & Pakeha: What You Need To Know." More 145 (July 1995): 42-46.
- "Song For Seven Heroes." Northern Advocate 2 Oct. 2004: 13.