Tāpihana Paraire Paikea

Tāpihana Paraire "Dobbie" Paikea (26 January 1920 – 7 January 1963), also known as Dobson, was a New Zealand politician and Rātana morehu who won the Northern Maori electorate for Labour in 1943. He was a Māori of Te Roroa, Te Parawhau and Ngāti Whātua descent.[1] He was elected following the death of his father Paraire Karaka Paikea who had been the MP, and he held the parliamentary seat until his own death in 1963.

Dobbie Paikea
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Northern Maori
In office
24 September 1943 – 7 January 1963
Preceded byParaire Karaka Paikea
Succeeded byMatiu Rata
Personal details
Born
Tāpihana Paraire Paikea

26 January 1920
Rangiatea, Kaipara, New Zealand
Died7 January 1963(1963-01-07) (aged 42)
Oneriri, Kaiwaka, Kaipara, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
RelationsParaire Karaka Paikea (father)

Early life

A foundation pupil of the Rātana Pa school, Paikea started work in the Native Affairs Ministry. He led the Rātana Morehu Brass Band, and organised the special train which took the Rātana followers from the Tai Tokerau area in the Far North to Rātana for the annual festivals.[1] In 1940 he played some senior matches for the Manukau rugby league club in Auckland.[2]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1943–1946 27th Northern Maori Labour
1946–1949 28th Northern Maori Labour
1949–1951 29th Northern Maori Labour
1951–1954 30th Northern Maori Labour
1954–1957 31st Northern Maori Labour
1957–1960 32nd Northern Maori Labour
1960–1963 33rd Northern Maori Labour

Paikea was elected to replace his father at the 1943 general election on 24 September 1943. A by-election was to have been held on 19 June 1943,[3] with two candidates, Paikea and Mr Samuel W. Maioha of Russell.[4] But when the government announced a September general election,[5] the requirement to hold a by-election was then avoided by a special Act of Parliament; the By-elections Postponement Act 1943, passed on 11 June 1943.

Paikea promoted Rātana and Maori issues. His maiden speech covered the economic and social contribution of the Maori war effort, Maori cultural pride and equal treatment for Maori and Pakeha. As a Member of Parliament for the Far North and based in Auckland, Paikea had a special emphasis for Tai Tokerau land claims and the needs of Maori moving to the city.

During the Second Labour Government (1957–60) Labour held a working majority of one causing the party whips to impose strict discipline for attendance in the house to avoid the government losing a division. Media speculated that Paikea may be a weak link in this regard as his health was known to be poor and his attendance record in the previous parliament was not good. A well-worn joke in caucus was that senior whip Henry May was responsible for 38 members plus himself while junior whip Ritchie Macdonald was tasked with checking only on Paikea. During the three years of the government Paikea never put a foot wrong and not only had impeccable attendance but chaired the Maori Affairs select committee with skill. National MP Norman Shelton remarked on the change in attendance habits to which Paikea responded "In opposition, I was the only one worrying about my health. Now there are 40 others praying for me every night."[6]

He remained a Member of Parliament for Northern Maori until his own death on 7 January 1963.[7] At the by-election caused by Paikea's death hid uncle Paikea Henare Toka stood for the Labour Party nomination.[8] He was not selected but stood as an independent Labour candidate, but finished seventh out of nine candidates with the official Labour candidate Matiu Rata winning.[9]

Notes
  1. Hooker, Garry. "Paikea, Tāpihana Paraire". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  2. "Maoris' Choice/Seat In Parliament/Minister's Son Nominated". Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 113. 14 May 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  3. "News of the Day - Vacant Maori Seat". The Evening Post. Vol. CXXXV, no. 118. Wellington. 20 May 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  4. "Northern Maori Seat". The Evening Post. Vol. CXXXV, no. 130. Wellington. 3 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  5. "SEPTEMBER POLLS, General Election - Position of Vacant Seats". Auckland Star. Vol. LXXIV, no. 137. 11 June 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  6. Tizard, R. J. (20 December 1993). "When MPs held on by self-discipline". The New Zealand Herald. p. 8.
  7. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 225. OCLC 154283103.
  8. "Candidate Next Week". The New Zealand Herald. 16 February 1963. p. 3.
  9. "By-election Polls Labour Vote Rises In Final Counts". The Press. Vol. CII, no. 30091. 27 March 1963. p. 12.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tapihana Paraire Paikea.
  • Henderson, James Mcleod (1963). Ratana The Man, The Church, The Movement (1st ed.) A.H & A.W. Reed Ltd ISBN 0-589-00619-3.
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