PRINCESS TE PUEA

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22009, 10 April 1943, Page 4

PRINCESS TE PUEA

PARLIAMENT CANDIDATURE INVITATION FROM TARANAKI Princess Te Puea Herangi, C.8.E., of Waikato, has been invited to stand for Parliament. This is the second occasion on which Princess Te Puea has been so invited. The invitation has not come on this occasion, however, from her own tribes but from an influential member of Taranaki chiefs, who informed her that Mr Toko Ratan?, the present member for Western Maori, did not intend to stand at the general election. The proposal is being discussed by the Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto people. Princess Te Puea has intimated that if it is the wish of the people that she stand for Parliament she will consider the proposal, but as yet she has declined to make any definite promise. This suggestion is without precedent in Maori politics. Hitherto, no woman has been approached to stand for Parliament. In this proposal from Taranaki history has repeated itself. In 1911 a party of Taranaki chiefs visited the late King Mahuta (Princess Te Puea’s uncle) and asked for his support for Dr. Pomare. The work of organisation for the young Maori doctor was entrusted to Princess Te Puea by the Maori king, and she was in a large measure responsible for his election. Now Taranaki has returned the compliment by urging a Waikato candidate to stand. The last Waikato representative (who was defeated by Sir Maui Pomare) was Henare Kaihau.