The Funeral of Mr Paikea, M.P.

Te Ao Hou, March 1963, Page 31

The Funeral of Mr Paikea, M.P. Mr Tapihana Paraire Paikea, M.P. for Northern Maori since 1943, died on 7th January at Kaiwaka, following a serious illness. He was 43 years of age. Mr Paikea—or ‘Dobbie’, as he was affectionately known—was born at Batley, Otamatea, and educated at Wanganui Technical College. He was a member of the Ngatiwhatua Tribe, and the son of the late Hon. Paraire Paikea, who was a minister in the Labour Government and a distinguished leader of his people. ‘Dobbie’ Paikea assisted his father on the Maori Advisory Council from 1935 to 1937 and later joined the Maori Affairs Department. At this time he was a 16 ½ stone, 6 ft. 4 in. Otamatea rugby representative, but later he turned to playing league in Auckland for the Manukau Club. At the age of 23 he entered Parliament as successor to his father. During World War II he volunteered four times for active service, his application being rejected on medical grounds on each occasion. From 1957 to 1960 he was chairman of Parliament's Maori Affairs Committee. Mr Paikea is survived by his wife and nine children.