Koro Wētere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Koro Wētere
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| 35th Minister of Māori Affairs | |
| In office 26 July 1984 – 2 November 1990 |
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| Prime Minister | David Lange Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore |
| Preceded by | Ben Couch |
| Succeeded by | Winston Peters |
| 39th Minister of Lands | |
| In office 26 July 1984 – 16 September 1987 |
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| Prime Minister | David Lange |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Elworthy |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tapsell |
| 21st Minister of Forestry | |
| In office 26 July 1984 – 24 July 1987 |
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| Prime Minister | David Lange |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Elworthy |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tapsell |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Western Maori |
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| In office 29 November 1969 – 12 October 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Iriaka Rātana |
| Succeeded by | Electorate abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Koro Tainui Wētere
22 June 1935 Oparure, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 June 2018 (aged 83) Te Kūiti, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Nedracita Takuora Edwards
(m. 1960) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Nanaia Mahuta (niece) Simon Bridges |
Koro Tainui Wētere (born 22 June 1935, died 23 June 2018) was an important New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years, from 1969 to 1996. He belonged to the Labour Party. From 1984 to 1990, he served as the Minister of Māori Affairs in the government.
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Early Life and Family Background
Koro Wētere was born on 22 June 1935, in a place called Oparure, near Te Kūiti. His parents were Weo Maruatara Wētere and Te Aorangi Wētere. He was connected to the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi, which is a large Māori tribe.
He went to Te Kūiti High School and later studied at Massey University. Koro Wētere was also a minister in the Rātana Church. He served his community in Oparure, Te Kūiti, and Piopio during the 1960s.
In 1960, Koro Wētere married Nedracita Takuora Edwards. They had five children together.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1969–1972 | 36th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1972–1975 | 37th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1975–1978 | 38th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1978–1981 | 39th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1981–1984 | 40th | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1984–1987 | 41st | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1990–1993 | 43rd | Western Maori | Labour | |
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Western Maori | Labour | |
Koro Wētere joined the Labour Party in 1957. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1969 election. He represented the Western Maori electorate. This was one of the four special electorates for Māori people in New Zealand.
Because the Labour Party was very popular in Māori electorates, Koro Wētere easily kept his seat. He remained an MP until he retired in the 1996 election. In 1976, he became a "Shadow Minister" for Forests. This meant he was the Labour Party's spokesperson on forests while they were not in power. Later, he became the Shadow Minister for Māori Affairs and Lands.
Serving as a Cabinet Minister
When the Labour Party won the 1984 election, Koro Wētere became a Cabinet Minister. He was appointed Minister of Māori Affairs and held this important role until 1990. He also served as Minister of Lands and Minister of Forestry. These roles meant he was in charge of government departments related to these areas.
During his time as Minister, there was a situation called the "Māori loan affair." This involved an attempt to get an overseas loan for Māori businesses. Koro Wētere faced questions about this, but he stated that he had not done anything wrong.
In 1990, Koro Wētere made a significant move. He refused to translate his speeches in Parliament from Māori into English. This helped highlight the importance of the Māori language in public life. Today, Parliament has special services for simultaneous interpretation between English and Māori.
After the Labour Party lost the 1990 election, Koro Wētere returned to being an opposition MP. He continued to be the Shadow Minister of Māori Affairs until he retired from politics in 1996.
Awards and Recognition
Koro Wētere received several awards for his service to New Zealand. In 1977, he was given the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. He also received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
In 1996, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This award recognized his important contributions to the Māori people.
The University of Waikato also honored Koro Wētere. In 1999, he received an honorary doctorate for his work to improve Māori affairs in Aotearoa (New Zealand). In 2008, he received a special lifetime achievement award from the university.
Death
Koro Wētere passed away in Te Kūiti on 23 June 2018. He died just one day after his 83rd birthday.
