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June 08, 2016
Shrewd pragmatist Latimer won fair result for Maori
Waatea Team
Posted On June 8, 2016
Sir Graham’s successor as chair of the New Zealand Maori Council says the Taitokerau leader was a shrewd pragmatist and a fine negotiator.
Sir Graham died yesterday aged 90 and is lying in state at Te Paatu Marae in Pamapuria near Kaitaia.
Sir Taihakurei Durie says over a 50-year association he saw a man who was able to get people on side and talk them round to his solutions.
His greatest achievements were the series of cases in the 1980s which led to recognition of Treaty of Waitangi principles at constitutional level and the transfer of significant land, fisheries, forests and broadcasting assets to Maori.
"He was fundamentally a political person. The cases he ran in the court were largely with a view to effecting a settlement out of court. I see him as a very shrewd politician and pragmatist, not an academic, not ideologically driven, driven by being able to get a fair result for Maori people," Sir Taihakurei Durie says.
The funeral service for Sir Graham Latimer will be at 10am on Saturday at Te Paatu Marae.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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