Sir Apirana Ngata

Ngati Porou leader, land reformer, politician

Sir Apirana Ngata held the Eastern Mäori parliamentary seat from 1905 to 1943. Among his achievements were his schemes for consolidation of fragmented land titles, the development of unproductive land, Mäori health and welfare and the establishment of the Pioneer Mäori Battalion in World War I.

During the Depression he was Native minister in the United government and initiated schemes to develop non-productive land and provide employment opportunities for as many Mäori as possible. Sir Apirana's programmes made a huge contribution to Mäori morale and prosperity.

Scholar

Some maintain that Sir Apirana's most important contribution to his race was the promotion of a revival of Mäori culture through his literary work in collecting and publishing Mäori waiata (songs, chants, poetry) and his revival of Mäori arts and crafts which focused on refurbishing marae and the building of carved meeting houses.

Father of the action song

He has been unequivocally called the father of the action song. Early in his career he made translations of popular European songs of the day, like The Old Folks at Home into Mäori. Later he borrowed the tunes of the songs and added Mäori words of a different theme, From there it was a short step to add actions.

During World War I, he popularised action songs by featuring them in concerts he organised all over NZ for the Maori Soldiers' Fund. According to the concert programs, these concerts included E te ope tuatahi, a "haka hou" (new haka) and Tomoana's Houa ra te waka nei (a canoe poi song) And at Hui Aroha held for the returning Maori soldiers Hoki hoki tonu mai and, possibly his most famous, Karangatia ra.

He died in July, 1950. People from all over New Zealand honoured him at his tangi. He is featured on the NZ $50 note.