Ben Couch

The Honourable Ben Couch QSO JP
34th Minister of Māori Affairs
In office 13 December 1978 – 26 July 1984
Preceded by	Duncan MacIntyre
Succeeded by	Koro Wētere
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wairarapa
In office 1975–1984
Preceded by	Jack Williams
Succeeded by	Reg Boorman
Personal details
Born	(1925-06-27)27 June 1925 Rapaki, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
Died	3 June 1996(1996-06-03) (aged 70) Masterton, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse(s)	Bessie Couch
Children	7
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)
School	Christchurch Technical School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth New Zealand No. 469 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1945–54 Wairarapa 55 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1947–49 1948–50  New Zealand New Zealand Māori 3 20 (0)

Position(s)	First five-eighth
New Zealand No.	469
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1945–54	Wairarapa	55	()
National team(s)
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1947–49 1948–50	New Zealand New Zealand Māori	3 20	(0)

Manuera Benjamin Riwai "Ben" Couch QSO JP (27 June 1925 – 3 June 1996) was a New Zealand politician and rugby union player. He was a team-member of the All Blacks and the New Zealand Māori rugby union team in the 1940s.

Couch was born in 1925 in Christchurch and he grew up on Banks Peninsula. Couch's parents were Methodists and he was largely raised by his grandmother who belonged to the Salvation Army. He attended Christchurch Technical School. He married Bessie Carter, his childhood sweetheart who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Couch was in the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the end of World War II but was never sent into battle. At the age of 24 Couch joined the LDS Church. He moved to the Wairarapa in the mid-1940s.

A first five-eighth, Couch represented Wairarapa at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1947 to 1949. He played seven matches for the All Blacks including three internationals. Of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent, he also played 20 matches for New Zealand Māori between 1948 and 1950.

In the 1975 general election, he was elected to Parliament as the National Party MP for the Wairarapa electorate, thus becoming (with Rex Austin) only the second and third Māori (after Sir James Carroll) to win a general electorate (as opposed to a Māori electorate).

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