Ihakara Porutu (Kara) Puketapu

Ihakara Puketapu was born in Waiwhetu in Lower Hutt and was educated at Waiwhetu School and Wellington Technical College where he became school dux and head prefect. After leaving school, he worked in government departments including Internal Affairs, Māori Affairs, Child Welfare and the Social Security Department. From 1955-56 he was a New Zealand Māori Rugby All Black. He went on to study at Victoria University and graduated with a B.A. in Geography and Education and also completed a Social Science Diploma. In 1967-68 Puketapu was awarded the Harkness Fellowship of the Commonwealth Fund and attended Graduate School at the Centre for Urban Studies at the University of Chicago where he completed Masters study in urban ecology. In 1968 he attended the University of New Mexico and completed masterate work in cultural anthropology and doctoral research on "Pueblo: Indian Community Development.”

From 1962-64 Puketapu was an Inspector - Efficiency and Economy for the Department of Māori Affairs. From 1965-67 he was Inspector - Efficiency and Economy at the State Services Commission. He was Chief Administrative Officer at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research from 1969-71. From 1971-73 he was Senior Inspector - Efficiency and Economy for the State Services Commission. He was administrative secretary to the New Zealand High Commissioner from 1973-75 and was Assistant Commissioner of the State Services Commission responsible for the Public Service, Management Services, Staff Training and Government Computer Services from 1975-76. For the next two years, he was Assistant Commissioner, Management Audit, at the State Services Commission.

Puketapu was Secretary of Māori Affairs and Māori Trustee from 1977-83. In this capacity he undertook assignments for three governments: in 1979 he assisted in the formulation of social policies in Japan; in 1981 he conducted a review of the Mexico Agrarian Policy; and in 1982 he completed a review of land lease systems in the Solomon Islands. In 1980 he was Chair of the New Zealand Management Committee of the Te Māori Art Exhibition USA (1984-87). He designed and implemented the Te Kohanga Reo Māori pre-school system.

Puketapu retired from the New Zealand Public Service in 1983 and in 1986 was appointed New Zealand’s first scholar to Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies, Colorado. In 1989 he became a member of the Board of Governors of the East-West Center, Honolulu, and in 1991 was appointed to the Board of the New Zealand Māori and Pacific Arts Council. From 1991-92 he was a Member of the Executive Committee - Review and restructuring of East West Center, Research and Administration Operations. Puketapu was Managing Director of Māori International Limited until 1996, and Director of several fishing and private companies. Puketapu is currently Director of Tu Tangata Enterprises which operates programmes in New Zealand and Hawaiian Schools. As the CEO of Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui o te Upoko o te Ika a Maui Inc., he established the Atiawa-Toa Radio Station and the Waiwhetu Medical Centres. He is Chair of Te Punga o Nga Waka Trust (Wellington Region Māori Health Consortium) and recently retired as Director of Hutt Valley Health Corporation.

Two highlights of Puketapu’s life have been delivering the final valedictory oration in Westminster Abbey, London, after the death of then Prime Minister, Norman Kirk; and coaching the Wainuiomata Rugby League team which, in the 1990s, won three national titles and competed in two World Sevens Tournaments in Australia representing New Zealand. In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Victoria University for his lifetime contribution to the development of opportunities for Māori.

Biographical sources

• Correspondence with Puketapu, Nov. 1992, 13 Feb. and 14 July 1998, 12 Aug. 2004, and 14 June 2005.