Maharaia Winiata, an eminent scholar and an outstanding leader, died on 6 April 1960, aged 48. Born at Ngahina Pa, Ruatoki, in the Bay of Plenty, he was educated in Tauranga and later, as a part-time student, at Auckland University. While gaining his B.A., and later his M.A. degree, he taught at a number of secondary schools. He afterwards taught at Rotokawa Maori School, Rotorua, and at Wesley College.

First Doctor of Philosophy In 1949 he was appointed the first Maori Adult Education Officer in Auckland, and three years later became the first Maori to win a Nuffield Scholarship. This enabled him to study at Edinburgh University, where he gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. He was the first Maori ever to earn this degree. He was an adviser in the film ‘The Seekers’, and played the part of the old tohunga in the film. Dr Winiata was ordained as a Methodist minister, and before taking up teaching he had completed the Trinity College course for the Methodist ministry. He was a magnificent fighter and a great advocate for the Maori people. His aim was the education of the Maori race as a whole, and he devoted most of his short life to that end.

Challenge to Seek Knowledge The memorial statue, which is eight feet high, is designed to act as a challenge to Maori youth to seek after education and knowledge. In his right hand—the hand with which a man usually fights—the figure holds a kit; it is the kit of the knowledge of the arts of peace, one of the three kits that Tane, having ascended to the uppermost of the heavens, brought back to earth for the benefit of man. In his left hand the figure holds a mere, symbolizing his Maoritanga. As the concrete statue (which is painted a dark brown) stands beside the elaborate carvings of the meetinghouse, it was decided that as a contrast the statue's form would be a simple one. The face is featureless, partly for this reason and partly because in this way, the universality of the figure becomes apparent.

Made by Arnold Wilson The statue is the work of the well-known sculptor, Arnold Wilson, who like Dr Winiata, was born at Ngahina Pa in Ruatoki. Mr Wilson, the first Maori student to graduate in sculpture, was taught by Dr Winiata for two years while attending Wesley College. Since Mrs Winiata, Princess Piki and Mr David Winiata, after the unveiling of the memorial. 1958 he has been arts and crafts tutor at the Bay of Islands College, but recently moved to Auckland, where he teaches at Mt Albert Grammar School.

Commissioned by People of Tauranga The memorial was commissioned by the Maori people of Tauranga, many of whom were related to Dr Winiata. The erection of the memorial is the climax of four years' hard work by the Dr Winiata Memorial Committee, whose chairman is Mr J. Kohu. Many Maori and Pakeha organisations, in Tauranga and elsewhere, contributed to the fund.

Many Speakers Pay Tribute The unveiling ceremony was preceded by a religious service in which ministers of the Methodist, Ringatu and Ratana churches took part. After the statue had been unveiled by Princess Piki and two plaques had been unveiled by two sons of Dr Winiata, Ranginui (David) and Te Kapanga (Frank), many speakers paid tribute to the great qualities and lasting achievement of Maharaia Winiata as a leader, teacher and scholar. One speaker expressed this as follows: ‘All his life, Maharaia Winiata put the welfare of his people in the forefront of his life. He strove for equality between Maori and European in the best things of life, and worked to reduce evils among his own and the Pakeha people. He was a son of his tribe, of his people, and of New Zealand’.