Ihaia Puketapu

Ihaia Porutu Puketapu OBE (1887–1971) was a New Zealand tribal leader, butcher, roading contractor and labourer. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Te Ati Awa iwi. He was born in Waiwhetu, New Zealand, in 1887.

As a young man, he was trained by the prophet Te Whiti at Parihaka, before returning to the Wellington region. He was active in the early New Zealand Labour Party and had close friendships with Peter Fraser and Walter Nash; he was active in the campaign for the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act 1945.[1]

Puketapu married Amiria Ake Ake, in Hāwera about 1907, but she died in 1916. He remarried Pākehā Vera May Yeates (1904–1991) on 15 March 1930, at Wellington. They had many children, including Ihakara Puketapu and Erenora Puketapu-Hetet.[2]

In the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours, Puketapu was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for social welfare services to Māori youth.[3]

Puketapu died in Lower Hutt on 1 July 1971.

References
  1. Puketapu, Te Rira. "Ihaia Porutu Puketapu". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. Obituary for Vera May Puketapu, Evening Post March 1991. Wellington, New Zealand.
  3. "No. 42053". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 11 June 1961. p. 4016.


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