  donna lynn awatere huata (sometimes written awatere-huata, previously known as donna awatere; born 1949) is a former member of the parliament of new zealand for the act party, former activist for mÄori causes, and convicted fraudster. ==early life== donna awatere was born in the city of rotorua in 1949, and was educated in auckland. her primary area of study was education, particularly educational psychology, but she has also undertaken study in operatic singing and film production. her father, colonel arapeta awatere dso mc, was a prominent member of the mÄori battalion. in 1969 he was convicted of the murder of his mistress's lover and sent to jail, where he eventually died.awatere, hinemoa ruataupare, awatere, arapeta marukitepua pitapitanuiarangi 1910â1976, dictionary of new zealand biography, updated 7 april 2006 ==activism== from the 1970s awatere became involved in the mÄori protest movement, including the group nga tamatoa. she was a leading protester against the 1981 springbok tour, and in 1984 she published maori sovereignty, which became a key text in the mÄori protest movement. during this period she and fellow maori activist ripeka evans went to communist cuba.stuff nz.20 oct.2007. she was also involved in feminist politics, and maori sovereignty was originally written for the feminist magazine broadsheet. she was critical of white feminists who ignored issues of race, and expressed the opinion that the problems facing mÄori were more important than those facing women and other marginalised groups. in maori sovereignty she is generally critical of the established left. after the publication of maori sovereignty, awatere retired from protest and became a biculturalism consultant for various organisations, including the new zealand treasury and the new zealand police. she also imported a children's reading programme, which she later developed and promoted through the pipi foundation. during this period she married wi huata and changed her surname from awatere to awatere huata. ==member of parliament== ===member of parliament===       shortly before the , awatere huata joined the act new zealand party. this surprised many commentators, as act wa
1949_births ACT_New_Zealand_MPs Living_people Members_of_the_New_Zealand_House_of_Representatives MAori_MPs MAori_activists MAori_politicians New_Zealand_feminists New_Zealand_fraudsters New_Zealand_list_MPs New_Zealand_prisoners_and_detainees New_Zealand_women_in_politics People_convicted_of_fraud People_from_Rotorua Politicians_convicted_of_crimes