Born into the Ng膩ti Porou iwi,聽膧pirana Ngata鈥檚 early years were strongly influenced by his father Paratene, and his great-uncle Rapata, who imbued him with a strong sense of loyalty to the Crown. Brought up as a M膩ori and a speaker of te reo M膩ori, they both insisted he also learnt聽P膩keh膩聽knowledge and skills as they believed this could help him to improve life and conditions for the M膩ori people.
At Te Aute College, Ngata learnt the classics, was prepared for matriculation, university and the professions - and, along with all M膩ori students, was strongly encouraged to have pride in M膩ori and instilled with the mission of saving their people from social disintegration.
By 1893, when he graduated from UC with a BA in political science, followed by an MA and an LLB in 1896, Ngata was the first M膩ori to graduate from any University in New Zealand. He then dedicated his life to reforming the social and economic conditions of the M膩ori people.
Through his life, he became a renowned leader, land reformer and politician. Elected a member of Parliament in 1905, he remained until 1943. As Minister of M膩ori Affairs, his M膩ori Land Development Scheme, inaugurated in 1931, was one of the greatest achievements of his Parliamentary career.
Ngata was knighted in 1927 in recognition of his services to M膩ori communities and for his efforts as Chief Recruiting Officer during the First World War. Throughout his life, he contributed profoundly to the revival of the M膩ori race spiritually, culturally, and economically.
New Zealand paid tribute to this remarkable man in 1999 by embedding his portrait on the New Zealand $50 note alongside the Porourangi Meeting house of his iwi and the K艒kako bird.
