July 10, 2023
Puketapu a catalyst for change
Māori Party president John Tamihere says the late Kara Puketapu was a matakite whose vision was 25 years ahead of his times.
The Te Ati Awa leader and former secretary for Māori Affairs died on Friday at the age of 89.
His tangi is a Waiwhetu Marae in Lower Hutt.
Mr Tamihere says he revolutionised the public service by advancing Maori public servants and supporting community-driven Maori development and also challenging other agencies.
“When he was appointed the head of the Department of Maori Affairs he then advanced programmes like Kokiri, like Tu Tangata. He licensed the releasing of the (John) Rangihau report Puao Te Ata Tu and a whole range of other things. He was a leader by way of expressing catalyst-type issues,” he says.
The nehu for Ihakara Puketapu is tomorrow