Many Maoris Elected to Local Bodies

Te Ao Hou, December 1962, Page 8

Many Maoris Elected to Local Bodies Maori candidates won seats on a number of local bodies in the elections on October 13, and in a number of districts Maori candidates made local history by being the first members of their race to gain local body selection. In Auckland, Mr A. Awatere, a welfare officer and former commanding officer of the Maori Battalion, was elected to Auckland City Council. Others to pioneer Maori representation were Mr L. Rangi (Hamilton City Council), Mr W. Proctor (Pukekohe Borough Council), Mr T. N. Tuhimata (Tuakau Borough Council), and Mr Sam Mihaere, Palmerston North City Council. Mr Mihaere is a Maori Welfare Officer. The first Maori to be elected to Ngaruawahia Borough Council for about 20 years, Mr C. B. Ingram, topped the poll. Mr P. Tapene was returned to Onehunga Borough Council, also topping the poll. Two Maoris were elected to Rotorua City Council, the deputy-mayor (Mr P. H. Leonard) and a newcomer, Mr R. Paraire. A Maori, Mr R. P. Emery, was re-elected to Te Kuiti Borough Council, and Moerewa, Northland, gained its first all-Maori county town board, and Manurewa Borough Council includes a Maori, Mr W. Pratney. In the Wellington district, Mr Ralph Love was elected to Wellington City Council, while his nephew, Mr Peter Love, was elected to Petone Borough Council. Mr Steve Watene was re-elected to Petone Borough Council. ? A major step in familiarising primary school children with the Maori language is now being taken by the Education Department, the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools, Mr J. Ewing has said in Hamilton. Mr Ewing told the annual conference of the New Zealand Education Board's Association that a bulletin entitled ‘About the Maori Language’ was now being prepared. It was not a formal textbook but would describe aspects of the Maori language, pronunciation, numerals and everyday phrases.