15 Facts About Eruera Tirikatene

Sir Eruera Tihema Te Aika Tirikatene was a New Zealand Maori politician of Ngai Tahu descent.

Eruera Tirikatene remained the MP until his death in 1967, when his daughter Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan succeeded to the seat, in a by-election.

Eruera Tirikatene served three years with the New Zealand Maori Battalion, reaching the rank of sergeant and commended for carrying a wounded soldier while under fire.

Eruera Tirikatene was buried at Te Kai A Te Atua Urupa, Kaiapoi.

At the time there were few provisions for absentee voting, and unable to even vote for himself, Eruera Tirikatene lost the election by one vote.

In June 1932, the sitting MP for Southern Maori, Tuiti Makitanara died suddenly and Eruera Tirikatene won the by-election to become the first Ratana MP.

Eruera Tirikatene continued to represent his electorate until his death in January 1967.

From his maiden speech, Eruera Tirikatene made recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi one of his major aims, presenting a petition with over 30,000 signatures.

Eruera Tirikatene spoke out against this discrimination in social welfare which caused poverty to Maori and the removal of this inequality by the Labour Government strengthened the Labour and Ratana bond.

Eruera Tirikatene persuaded the Ngai Tahu to accept the Ngaitahu Claim Settlement Act of 1944 and became president of the Ngaitahu Trust Board.

Eruera Tirikatene was expecting Maori Affairs, which was taken by Prime Minister Walter Nash.

Eruera Tirikatene continued committee work while in opposition after 1960, and remained an MP until his death.

Eruera Tirikatene was succeeded in the seat by his daughter, Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan.

In 1935, Eruera Tirikatene was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Eruera Tirikatene was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours.