Kei muri i te awe kāpara he tangata kē/Behind the tattooed face a stranger stands/Seeking understandings beyond first impressions/Recognising, engaging, understanding difference

Pita Sharples

Indigenous Affiliation: 
Ngāti Kahungunu tribe, Ngāi Te Kikiri o te Rangi and Ngāti Pāhauwera sub-tribes of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Position/Institution: 
Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Corrections, NZ Parliament; and Co-leader of the Māori Party

Born in Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay, Dr Sharples attended Te Aute Māori Boys’ College, and went on to study at The University of Auckland and Auckland Teachers’ College where he completed his teacher training. In 1976 he was awarded a PhD by The University of Auckland in Anthropology and Linguistics. He headed the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator for eight years, and later became Director of Culture at the Department of Māori Affairs. He was also a Professor of Education at The University of Auckland. Pita has been actively involved in the West Auckland community for much of his adult life having raised his family there and in the late 1970’s was instrumental in establishing Hoani Waititi Marae. He has belonged to numerous Māori, community and education organisations and has been a consultant to many government agencies and professional boards. In 2004 he became Co-leader of the Māori Party, and was elected as MP for Tāmaki Makaurau in 2005. He is currently Minister of Māori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Corrections.