He Tipua: the Life & Times of Sir Apirana Ngata

The biography of twentieth century Maori leader, Sir Apirana Ngata, explores the impact the Maori leader had on the social, cultural, economic and political landscape of New Zealand. Apirana Turupa Ngata (1874-1950) of Ngati Porou was one of the most important and illustrious New Zealanders of the twentieth century. He was arguably the most influential Maori leader of recent times. He was born into a world in which Maori were in a debilitated state caused by military domination and land alienation. Maori, at the beginning of Ngata's life, were said to be a dying race. Ngata's lifelong mission was to restore the balance. Ngata had great powers of intelligence, energy anf foresight. He was the first Maori to obtain a university degree. He was a Member of Parliament from 1905 to 1943 and a hugely influential Minister of maori Affairs from 1928 to 1934. This book, the first-ever full biography of this major Maori leader, describes in detail the huge impact Ngata had on the social, cultural, economic and political landscape of New Zealand. Scholar, author, farmer, churchman, developer of Maori farming, builder of meeting houses, father of the Maori Battalion, supporter of Maori sport, promoter of the Maori cultural revival, teacher, poet, promoter of Maori broadcasting, developer of Maori education, fundraiser extraordinaire - Sir Aparana Ngata created a new path of reconciliation between Maori and Pakeha, and helped build an enduring Maori recovery.

Shortlisted for Montana New Zealand Book Awards: Biography Category 2002.