Maharaia Winiata, at Turangawaewae Pa, Ngaruawahia, 1950. (PHOTO G. H. BURT LTD.) A LEADER PASSES Dr Maharaia Winiata, New Zealand's foremost Maori scholar, possibly the most outstanding of contemporary Maori leaders, died in Tauranga Hospital on April 6th, aged 48. He collapsed on 3rd April at Judea Pa, Tauranga, where he was taking an active and leading role in organising a mass meeting of the followers of the Maori king movement (Pokai). Dr Winiata collapsed soon after making a spirited speech. He was taken to hospital but did not regain consciousness. He was the first Maori to become a doctor of philosophy and the only Maori to gain his doctorate at Edinburgh University. The work that he did while in the United Kingdom has become famous. Tales are told of how he regularly closeted himself in his room for nine or ten hours at a time so that he could devote himself to his studies without interruption. He brought the same concentrated, intense, thorough approach to all his work, and his thesis for his doctorate, “The Changing role of the Leader in Maori Society” was widely acclaimed. A tribute from Dr Kenneth Little, Head of the Department of Social Anthropology, Edinburgh, appears below. Born at Ngahina Pa. Ruatoki, in September 1912, Dr Winiata was educated at the Tauranga primary school and District High School. After gaining his University Entrance, he studied at Auckland University College as a part-time student for his B.A. degree. He later taught at several secondary schools. Two years later, he gained his M.A. degree also as a part-time student, and taught at Rotokawa Maori School, Rotorua, and at Wesley College, Paerata. In 1949, he was appointed the first Maori education officer in Auckland, a position he held until his death. Three years later, he became the first Maori to win a Nuffield Fellowship, which enabled him to study at Edinburgh University. While in the United Kingdom, Dr Winiata was associated with the production of the film “The Seekers”, from the late John Guthrie's novel. In it, he played the old tohunga. Dr Winiata was an ordained Methodist Minister. Before taking up teaching, he had completed the Trinity College course for the Methodist Ministry, and was in active Ministerial work for a time. He remained a devout Methodist to the end. A brilliant speaker in the highest and best traditions of Maori oratory, Dr Winiata was also a forceful and fiery personality, and an incisive thinker. He was a magnificent fighter and advocate, a great champion for the Maori people. Much had been expected of him in the difficult days that lie ahead for the Maori people. Dr Winiata is survived by his wife and five young children. Tributes to Maharaia Winiata have come from all over the world; some of them appear below. From Dr Kenneth Little, Head of the Department of Social Anthropology, Edinburgh: “As you know, his dissertation entitled “The Changing Role of the Leader in Maori Society” was accepted for the University Ph.D. and Winiata was the first Maori to win a doctorate from a United Kingdom University. Winiata came to us without any very extensive training in Social Anthropology and what strongly impressed me from the start was his willingness and determination to equip himself for his sociological task. He worked very hard at this as well as at his material, so hard in fact that he became quite ill for a time. The fact, therefore, that he eventually made up the leeway in this respect and succeeded in turning out a really useful contribution to the theory of race relations in New Zealand is extremely commend-