Ranginui Walker

Ranginui Joseph Isaac Walker, DCNZM (1 March 1932 – 28 February 2016) of Māori and Lebanese descent,^[1] was an academic and writer living in New Zealand.

Early life

Walker was born in 1932 into a farming family. He was a member of the Whakatōhea tribe of Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty.^[2]

He was educated at St Peter's Maori College, Auckland, Auckland Teachers' Training College and the University of Auckland. He was a primary school teacher for 10 years.^[2]

Career and activism

Walker was a member of Māori activist group Ngā Tamatoa.

Walker was secretary of the Auckland District Māori Council from 1969 to 1973 and chairman from 1974 to 1990.^[2]

He eventually become the Professor and Head of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland.^[3]

In 2003 Walker became a member of the Waitangi Tribunal.^[4]

Awards and honours

In 2009 he received a Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement^[5]

Prime Minister John Key said Walker was "not only an insightful commentator on important historical and contemporary issues, but was a tireless and passionate advocate for Maori".^[2]

Books

Walker published a number of books, including:

• Perceptions and Attitudes of the New Generation of Maoris to Pakeha Domination (1981)
• History of Maori Activism (1983)
• The Treaty of Waitangi (1983)
• The Political Development of the Maori People in New Zealand (1984)
• The Meaning of Biculturalism (1986)
• Nga Mamae o te Iwi Maori: Te Ripoata o te Hui i Turangawaewae (1987)
• Nga Tau Tohetohe The Years of Anger (1987)
• Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou / Struggle Without End (1990)
• Liberating Maori from Educational Subjection (1991)
• Nga Pepa a Ranginui The Walker Papers (1997)
• He Tipua The Life and Times of Sir Apirana Ngata (2001)
• Opotiki-Mai-Tawhiti Capital of Whakatohea (2007)

Notes

Sources