Pita Sharples
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The Honourable Sir Pita Russell Sharples KNZM CBE |
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Pita Sharples in 2010
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| 42nd Minister of Māori Affairs | |
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In office 19 November 2008 – 8 October 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Parekura Horomia |
| Succeeded by | Te Ururoa Flavell |
| Co-leader of the Māori Party | |
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In office 7 July 2004 – 13 July 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Te Ururoa Flavell |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau |
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In office 5 October 2005 – 20 August 2014 |
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| Preceded by | John Tamihere |
| Succeeded by | Peeni Henare |
| Majority | 2127 (11.11%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
20 July 1941 Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Māori Party |
Sir Pita Russell Sharples KNZM CBE (born Peter Russell Sharples, 20 July 1941) is a Māori academic and politician, who was a co-leader of the Māori Party from 2004 to 2013, and a minister outside Cabinet in the National Party-led government from 2008 to 2014. He was the member of Parliament for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate in Auckland from 2005 to 2014. He stepped down as co-leader role of the Māori Party in July 2013.
Sharples was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke's Bay. His mother Ruiha was of Ngāti Kahungunu, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton, United Kingdom.
He received his early education at Waipukurau District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College. His four years there culminated in him becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life. He then attended the University of Auckland, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, working at the Faculty of Education. He subsequently gained an MA (1st class) in Anthropology, and later a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics – both also from the University of Auckland.
In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Māori political party. After the foreshore and seabed controversy in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia a former minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples organised a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru seat which was launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party with Sharples as co-leader.
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