Northern Māori

Quick Facts: Who was Northern Māori?

Subject:

Northern Māori

Known for:

A historical Māori parliamentary electorate in New Zealand, replaced by Te Tai Tokerau.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Northern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Eastern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of mixed-member proportional representation, the Maori electorates were updated, and Northern Maori was replaced with the Te Tai Tokerau electorate. The electorate included the following population centres (more than 5,000 inhabitants as of 2025): Auckland, Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, and Tākiwira. The electorate included the following tribal areas: Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngati Kahu, Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi, and Ngati Whatua. The Northern Maori electorate boundary was in South Auckland.

Career & Major Achievements

It extended from Auckland City north to Northland, and had only minor boundary changes from 1868 to 1996. The first member of parliament for Northern Maori from 1868 was Frederick Nene Russell; he retired in 1870. The second member of parliament from 1871 to 1875 and in 1887 was Wi Katene. 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 Northern Maori and two other electorates. The electorate was held by Labour from 1938.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Paraire Karaka Paikea died in 1943, and was replaced by his son Tapihana Paraire Paikea. In 1979, Matiu Rata resigned from the Labour Party as a protest against Labour policies. In 1980 he resigned from Parliament, but came second in the subsequent by-election. The by-election was won by the Labour candidate, Bruce Gregory. Tau Henare won the electorate from Gregory for New Zealand First in 1993; a foretaste of the success of Henare and the other New Zealand First candidates (known as the Tight Five) in the Māori electorates in 1996.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1868: 1868 Milestone — Northern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Eastern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori.
2. 1871: 1871 Milestone — The second member of parliament from 1871 to 1875 and in 1887 was Wi Katene.
3. 1879: 1879 Milestone — 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 Northern Maori and two other electorates.
4. 1938: 1938 Milestone — The electorate was held by Labour from 1938.
5. 1943: 1943 Milestone — Paraire Karaka Paikea died in 1943, and was replaced by his son Tapihana Paraire Paikea.
6. 1979: 1979 Milestone — In 1979, Matiu Rata resigned from the Labour Party as a protest against Labour policies.
7. 1980: 1980 Milestone — In 1980 he resigned from Parliament, but came second in the subsequent by-election.
8. 1993: 1993 Milestone — Tau Henare won the electorate from Gregory for New Zealand First in 1993; a foretaste of the success of Henare and the other New Zealand First candidates (known as the Tight Five) in the Māori electorates in 1996.
9. 1996: 1996 Milestone — In 1996, with the introduction of mixed-member proportional representation, the Maori electorates were updated, and Northern Maori was replaced with the Te Tai Tokerau electorate.
10. 2025: 2025 Milestone — The electorate included the following population centres (more than 5,000 inhabitants as of 2025): Auckland, Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, and Tākiwira.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Northern Māori

True or False: “The Northern Maori electorate was abolished entirely after the introduction of Mixed-Member Proportional representation in 1996.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): It was not abolished; rather, it was replaced by a new electorate called Te Tai Tokerau.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Māori