Pita Sharples
Encyclopedia
Pita Russell Sharples, CBE, (born Peter Russell Sharples, 20 July 1941), a Māori academic and politician, currently co-leads the Māori Party
. He currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland City) in New Zealand's Parliament.
, a town in Hawke's Bay. His mother Ruiha was of Ngati Kahungunu
, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton
, United Kingdom.
He received his early education at Waipukurau
District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College
. His four years there culminated in him becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life. He then attended the University of Auckland
, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, working as a Professor of Education.
He subsequently gained an MA (1st class) in Anthropology
, and later a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics
– both also from the University of Auckland.
flared in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia
, a minister in the Labour Party
government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples began to organise a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru
seat. This eventually became launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party
, of which Sharples became co-leader.
In the general election
of September 2005, Sharples contested and won the seat of Tamaki Makaurau, the Māori electorate
covering urban Auckland
, displacing former Labour
MP John Tamihere
.
Sharples was re-elected with a majority of more than 7000. The National Party
won most seats overall and formed a minority government
with support from the Māori Party, Act New Zealand and United Future. Sharples was made Minister of Māori Affairs
, although like other support party members he remained outside Cabinet.
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Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
. He currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland City) in New Zealand's Parliament.
Early life
Sharples, was born in WaipawaWaipawa
Waipawa is the second-largest town in Central Hawke's Bay in the east of the North Island of New Zealand. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,872, a change of -2.0 percent since the 1996 census....
, a town in Hawke's Bay. His mother Ruiha was of Ngati Kahungunu
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, United Kingdom.
He received his early education at Waipukurau
Waipukurau
Waipukurau , also known as Ypuk, is the largest town in the Central Hawke's Bay District on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 50 kilometres southwest of Hastings on the banks of the Tukituki River....
District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College
Te Aute College
Te Aute College is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams, an Anglican missionary, and nephew and son-in-law of Bishop William Williams. It has a strong Māori character.It was built on land provided by Te Whatuiapiti, a hapu...
. His four years there culminated in him becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life. He then attended the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, working as a Professor of Education.
He subsequently gained an MA (1st class) in Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and later a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
– both also from the University of Auckland.
Member of Parliament
In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Māori political party. After the foreshore and seabed controversyNew Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy
The New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy is a debate in the politics of New Zealand. It concerns the ownership of the country's foreshore and seabed, with many Māori groups claiming that Māori have a rightful claim to title. These claims are based around historical possession and the Treaty...
flared in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
, a minister in the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples began to organise a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru
Te Tai Hauauru
Te Tai Hauāuru is a New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Te Tai Hauāuru is Tariana Turia of the Māori Party...
seat. This eventually became launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
, of which Sharples became co-leader.
In the general election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
of September 2005, Sharples contested and won the seat of Tamaki Makaurau, the Māori electorate
Maori seats
In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
covering urban Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, displacing former Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
MP John Tamihere
John Tamihere
John Henry Tamihere is a New Zealand media personality and former politician. He served as a Cabinet minister in the governing Labour Party from August 2002 to 3 November 2004.-Early life:...
.
Minister of Māori Affairs
In the 2008 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
Sharples was re-elected with a majority of more than 7000. The National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
won most seats overall and formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
with support from the Māori Party, Act New Zealand and United Future. Sharples was made Minister of Māori Affairs
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
, although like other support party members he remained outside Cabinet.
External links
- Pita Sharples MP official site
- Profile at Māori Party
- "Pita Sharples", TV documentary
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