Name Rangi Mawhete | ||
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Died July 24, 1961, Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||
Rangiputangatahi Mawhete (4 March 1880 – 24 July 1961), born as William Arthur Moffatt and commonly known as Rangi Mawhete, was a New Zealand land agent, interpreter and politician.
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Early life
Of Māori descent, he identified with the Muaūpoko and Rangitāne iwi. He was born in Tiakitahuna, Manawatu/Horowhenua, New Zealand on 4 March 1880. He was a grandson of the Rangitane chief Te Aweawe, and educated at Te Aute College.
Political career
He unsuccessfully stood for Western Maori; in 1914 with an unknown political affiliation (of six candidates, he came fourth), in 1922 as an Independent, and in 1925 for Labour. He organised a 1931 meeting between Ratana and Labour and organised the 1932 Māori Labour conference. In 1935 he warned against an exclusive Ratana-Labour alliance as dividing rather than uniting Māori.
He was a member of the Legislative Council for two terms from 9 March 1936 to 8 March 1950.
In the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mawhete was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Māori people.