Dr. Pita Sharples

Dr Sharples comes from the tribe of Ngāti Kahungunu of Hawkes Bay, his sub tribes are Ngāi Te Kikiri o te Rangi and Ngāti Pahauwera. Pita was Chairman of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe from 1982 to 1990. He has a doctorate in anthropology/linguistics and is a former Professor of Education at the University of Auckland.

His lifelong passion has centred around Hoani Waititi marae, one of Aotearoa’s first intertribal marae for urban Māori, which he built. Dr Sharples founded the first kura kaupapa Māori in the country at Hoani Waititi in 1985, and later developed the first whare kura (secondary school) for graduates of kura kaupapa.

Dr Sharples has also created the New Zealand National School of Māori Weaponry, to which he was appointed as Tumu Whakarae (Master). He has established Te Roopu Manutaki Māori Cultural Group, which he has led, choreographed and composed for 38 years.

Dr Sharples pioneered the development of the Race Relations office and was appointed the inaugural Chief Executive Officer from 1972 to 1980.

He is co-leader for the Māori Party and was elected to Parliament in 2005 as the Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Pita is the proud father of five children and eight mokopuna.