# Western Maori

Western Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Eastern Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, and Western Maori was replaced with the Te Tai Hauāuru and Te Puku O Te Whenua electorates.

## Tribal areas

The Western Maori electorate extended from South Auckland and the Waikato to Taranaki and the Manawatu. The seat originally went to Wellington. With MMP it was replaced by the Te Tai Hauāuru and Te Puku O Te Whenua electorates in 1996.
The electorate included the following tribal areas: Tainui, Taranaki

## History

The first member of parliament for Western Maori from 1868 was Mete Kīngi Paetahi. At the nomination meeting in Wanganui, held at the Courthouse, Paetahi was the only candidate proposed. He was thus elected unopposed. He represented the electorate of Western Maori from 1868 to 1870. He contested the electorate again at the 1871 general election, but of the three candidates, he came last. He was defeated by Wiremu Parata, with Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui in second place.
In the 1879 election there was some doubt about the validity of the election result, and a law was passed to confirm the result in Western Maori and two other electorates.
From the 1890s to the 1930s the seat was held by various Reform Party MPs. In 1935, Toko Ratana the eldest son of the founder of the Ratana Church won the seat and became the second Ratana MP; he became a Labour MP following the Labour-Ratana pact. From this point until the abolition of the seat prior to the 1996 election the seat was held by Labour MPs.
Toko Ratana died in 1944 and was succeeded by his younger brother, Matiu Rātana. He died in 1949 shortly before the 1949 general election. His wife Iriaka Rātana stood in his stead, despite significant opposition from those supporting traditional leadership roles, with Te Puea Herangi speaking out against her claim to "captain the Tainui canoe". Only the strong backing of the Rātana church and her threat to stand as a Rātana Independent secured her the Labour Party nomination. She became the first woman Maori MP, getting a similar majority (6317) to her husband in 1946 (his majority then was 6491), but no less than seven independent candidates (and one Kauhananui candidate, K Nutana) stood against her; they got 116 to 326 votes each.
Candidates for the National Party (who usually came second) included Hoeroa Marumaru (1946, 1949 & 1951) and Pei Te Hurinui Jones (1957, 1960 and 1963; also earlier).

### Members of Parliament

Western Maori was represented by 15 Members of Parliament:
Key
Independent Reform Ratana Labour
| Election | Winner |
| 1868 Māori election | Mete Kīngi Paetahi |
| 1871 election | Wiremu Parata |
| 1876 election | Hoani Nahe |
| 1879 election | Wiremu Te Wheoro |
| 1881 election | Wiremu Te Wheoro |
| 1884 election | Te Puke Te Ao |
| 1886 by-election | Hoani Taipua |
| 1887 election | Hoani Taipua |
| 1890 election | Hoani Taipua |
| 1893 election | Ropata Te Ao |
| 1896 election | Henare Kaihau |
| 1899 election | Henare Kaihau |
| 1902 election | Henare Kaihau |
| 1905 election | Henare Kaihau |
| 1908 election | Henare Kaihau |
| 1911 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1914 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1919 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1922 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1925 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1928 election | Māui Pōmare |
| 1930 by-election | Taite Te Tomo |
| 1931 election | Taite Te Tomo |
| 1935 election | Toko Ratana |
| 1938 election | Toko Ratana |
| 1943 election | Toko Ratana |
| 1945 by-election | Matiu Ratana |
| 1946 election | Matiu Ratana |
| 1949 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1951 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1954 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1957 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1960 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1963 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1966 election | Iriaka Rātana |
| 1969 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1972 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1975 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1978 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1981 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1984 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1987 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1990 election | Koro Wētere |
| 1993 election | Koro Wētere |

## Election results

Note that the affiliation of many early candidates is not known. There is contradictory information about the affiliation of Henare Kaihau. In Wilson's New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984, the authoritative work covering parliamentary history, Kaihau is listed as a Reform Party supporter from the party's inception in 1908. Kaihau does, however, appear on a poster of the Liberal Party in 1910. The New Zealand Herald, in its 1905 election reporting, also lists him as a government supporter, i.e. a Liberal.
Another example of contradictory reporting is for the 1911 election. Three newspapers, The Marlborough Express, The New Zealand Herald, and the Auckland Star reported political affiliations. Two papers have Māui Pōmare as an independent, whilst the third has him as a Labour supporter. Henare Kaihau is given three different affiliations: independent, Liberal, and Reform. Pepene Eketone is categorised as Labour by two of the papers, whilst the third has him as a Liberal supporter. The Auckland Star lists another Labour supporter, but the name is a composite of first and last names of two of the candidates.

### 1868 election

1868 Māori election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mete Kīngi Paetahi | Unopposed | | |

### 1871 election

1871 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Wiremu Parata | 258 | 43.07 |
| | Independent | Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui | 186 | 31.05 |
| | Independent | Mete Kīngi Paetahi | 155 | 25.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 12.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 599 | |

### 1876 election

1876 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hoani Nahe | 671 | 46.24 | |
| | Independent | Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui | 490 | 33.77 | +2.72 |
| | Independent | Wiremu Parata | 290 | 19.99 | −23.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 12.47 | +0.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,451 | | |

### 1879 election

1879 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Wiremu Te Wheoro | 1,053 | 70.48 | |
| | Independent | Hoani Taipua | 441 | 29.52 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 612 | 40.96 | +31.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,494 | | |

### 1881 election

1881 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Wiremu Te Wheoro | 991 | 69.20 | −1.28 |
| | Independent | Hāmiora Mangakāhia | 223 | 15.57 | |
| | Independent | Mita Karaka | 143 | 9.99 | |
| | Independent | William Hughes | 75 | 5.24 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 768 | 53.63 | +12.67 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,432 | | |

### 1884 election

1884 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Te Puke Te Ao | 356 | 25.21 | |
| | Independent | Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui | 284 | 20.11 | |
| | Independent | Wiremu Te Wheoro | 155 | 10.98 | |
| | Independent | Wetere Te Rerenga | 141 | 9.99 | |
| | Independent | Henare Kaihau | 137 | 9.70 | |
| | Independent | Mita Karaka | 136 | 9.63 | −0.35 |
| | Independent | Hāmiora Mangakāhia | 125 | 8.85 | −6.72 |
| | Independent | Sydney Taiwhanga | 78 | 5.52 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 5.10 | −48.53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,412 | | |

### 1886 by-election

1886 Western Maori by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hoani Taipua | 1,258 | 56.67 | |
| | Independent | Wiremu Te Wheoro | 519 | 23.38 | +12.40 |
| | Independent | Henare Kaihau | 225 | 10.14 | +0.43 |
| | Independent | Sydney Taiwhanga | 148 | 6.67 | +1.14 |
| | Independent | Ngawaka Taurua | 70 | 3.15 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 739 | 33.29 | +28.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,220 | | |

### 1887 election

1887 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hoani Taipua | 1,691 | 53.68 | −2.98 |
| | Independent | Wiremu Te Wheoro | 1,067 | 33.87 | +10.49 |
| | Independent | Pepene Eketone | 198 | 6.29 | |
| | Independent | John Ormsby | 153 | 4.86 | |
| | Independent | Takarangi Mete Kingi | 41 | 1.30 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 624 | 19.81 | −13.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,150 | | |

### 1890 election

1890 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Hoani Taipua | |
| | | Pepene Eketone | |
| | | Kipa Te Whatanui | |
| | | Te Kahui Kararahe | |
| | | Tatana Te Whataupoko | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,916 |

### 1893 election

1893 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Ropata Te Ao | 817 | 42.64 |
| | | Pepene Eketone | 727 | 37.94 |
| | | Te Wirihana Hunia | 365 | 19.05 |
| | | Ngarangi Katitia | 334 | 17.43 |
| | | Reha Aperahama | 274 | 14.30 |
| | | Eruera Whakaahu | 224 | 11.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 4.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,916 | |

### 1896 election

1896 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 1,605 | 26.70 | |
| | Liberal | Ropata Te Ao | 874 | 14.54 | −28.10 |
| | | Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui | 854 | 14.20 | |
| | | Ngarangi Katitia | 655 | 10.89 | −6.54 |
| | | John Ormsby | 575 | 9.56 | |
| | | Te Aohau Nikitini | 431 | 7.17 | |
| | | Pepene Eketone | 351 | 5.84 | −32.11 |
| | | Wiremu Ngapaki | 261 | 4.34 | |
| | | Reha Aperahama | 186 | 3.09 | −11.21 |
| | | Te Remana Nutana | 158 | 2.63 | |
| | | Te Wirihana Hunia | 37 | 0.62 | −18.43 |
| | | Hohepa Horomona | 8 | 0.13 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 731 | 12.16 | +7.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,012 | | |

### 1899 election

1899 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 2,685 | 52.69 | +25.99 |
| | | Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V | 873 | 17.13 | |
| | | Te Aohau Nikitini | 581 | 11.40 | +4.23 |
| | | Waata Hipango | 440 | 8.63 | |
| | | Hone Patene | 199 | 3.91 | |
| | | Takarangi Mete Kingi | 173 | 3.39 | |
| | | Wiremu Ngapaki | 145 | 2.85 | −1.50 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,812 | 35.56 | +23.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,096 | | |

### 1902 election

1902 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 3,324 | 53.05 | +0.36 |
| | | Ngarangi Katitia | 954 | 15.23 | |
| | | Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V | 840 | 13.41 | −3.73 |
| | | Eruera te Kahu | 673 | 10.74 | |
| | | Te One Teehi | 399 | 6.37 | |
| | | Te Weraro Kingi | 76 | 1.21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,370 | 37.82 | +2.27 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,266 | | |

### 1905 election

1905 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 3,026 | 50.14 | −2.91 |
| | Independent | Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V | 1,338 | 22.17 | +8.76 |
| | Liberal | Eruera te Kahu | 991 | 16.42 | |
| | Independent | Pitiera Taipua | 394 | 6.53 | |
| | Independent | Te Weraro Kingi | 162 | 2.68 | +1.47 |
| | Independent | Hare Teimana | 124 | 2.05 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,688 | 27.97 | −9.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,035 | | |

### 1908 election

1908 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 2,375 | 32.65 | −17.49 |
| | | Pepene Eketone | 1,618 | 22.24 | |
| | | Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V | 1,375 | 18.90 | −3.27 |
| | | Hema Te Ao | 1,178 | 16.19 | |
| | | Eruera te Kahu | 728 | 10.01 | −6.41 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 757 | 10.41 | −17.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,274 | | |

### 1911 election

1911 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Māui Pōmare | 2,464 | 35.24 | |
| | | Henare Kaihau | 1,899 | 27.16 | −5.49 |
| | | Pepene Eketone | 1,470 | 21.02 | −1.22 |
| | | Tarapipipi Taingakawa | 581 | 8.31 | |
| | | Ngarangi Katitia | 560 | 8.01 | |
| | | Pomare Hetaraka | 19 | 0.27 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 8.08 | −2.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,993 | | |

### 1914 election

1914 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Māui Pōmare | 3,416 | 50.29 | +15.05 |
| | Liberal | Hema Ropata te Ao | 1,309 | 19.27 | |
| | Liberal | Pepene Eketone | 1,074 | 15.81 | −5.21 |
| | Liberal–Labour | Rangi Mawhete | 703 | 10.35 | |
| | Independent | Hori Tiro Paora | 166 | 2.44 | |
| | Reform | Tuwhakaririka Patena | 125 | 1.84 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,107 | 31.02 | +22.94 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,793 | | |

### 1930 by-election

1930 Western Maori by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Taite Te Tomo | 3,921 | 53.29 |
| | Ratana | Toko Ratana | 3,101 | 42.14 |
| | Independent | Pei Te Hurinui Jones | 336 | 4.57 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 820 | 11.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,358 | |

### 1931 election

1931 general election: Western Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Taite Te Tomo | 4,172 | 53.54 |
| | Ratana | Toko Ratana | 2,736 | 35.11 |
| | Independent | Rima Wakarua | 394 | 5.06 |
| | | Pepene Eketone | 293 | 3.76 |
| | | Hane Henare Piahana | 103 | 1.32 |
| | United | Timi Takirihi (James Douglas) | 95 | 1.22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,436 | 18.43 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,793 | |

### 1945 by-election

1945 Western Maori by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Matiu Ratana | 4,697 | 53.63 |
| | National | Pei Te Hurinui Jones | 2,908 | 33.20 |
| | Independent | Winiata Piahana | 452 | 5.16 |
| | Independent | Takumaru Roetana Tupaea | 371 | 4.24 |
| | Independent | Rehe Parene Rewi Maniapoto Amohanga | 111 | 1.27 |
| | Independent | Pepiriri Reweti | 108 | 1.23 |
| | Independent Labour | Kaponga Erueti | 93 | 1.06 |
| | Independent | Reha Kau Hou | 41 | 0.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,789 | 19.16 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 554 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,335 | |