Selwyn Parata

Sir Selwyn Tanetoa Parata KNZM (born 1956 or 1957) is a New Zealand Māori leader. He has served as chair of the Ngāti Porou tribal authority, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, since 2014.

Sir Selwyn Parata

KNZM
Parata in 2011
Born
Selwyn Tanetoa Parata

1956 or 1957 (age 66–67)
Waipiro Bay, New Zealand
Children4
Relatives

Biography

Parata was born at Waipiro Bay in about 1956, the oldest child of Ron Parata and Hiria Reedy.[1] His siblings include the former National Party cabinet minister, Hekia Parata.[2] Through his father, he affiliates to Ngāi Tahu, while on his mother's side he is of Ngāti Porou descent.[1]

Parata was educated at Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria and at St Stephen's College near Bombay. After leaving school, he worked in various jobs before being appointed as the cultural officer for the Gisborne region in the Department of Maori Affairs when he was 25 years old. He married Amohaere Houkamau, and the couple went on to have four children.[1]

In 1987, Parata was elected a trustee of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou, and he has served on that body and its successor, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, ever since, becoming chair of the latter in 2014. He has also been chair of Te Matatini since 2008, and chair of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa since 2014.[3]

In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours, Parata was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori.[4]

References
  1. Jones, John (1 May 2015). "Nati Nous - a profile on TRONPnui chair, Selwyn Parata". Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. "Educating Hekia Parata". Woman's Day. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. "The King's Birthday and Coronation honours list 2023 – citations for Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  4. "The King's Birthday and Coronation honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.


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