Tapihana Paraire Paikea

Infobox Person|

name=Tapihana Paraire Paikea
caption=
birth_date= 26 January 1920
birth_place=Rangiatea, Kaipara, New Zealand
death_date=7 January 1963
death_place=Oneriri, Kaiwaka, Kaipara

Tapihana Paraire Paikea , also known as Dobson, is a former New Zealand politician and Ratana who won the Northern Maori seat for Labour in 1943. He was elected following the death of his father Paraire Karaka Paikea who had been the MP, and he held the Parliamentary seat until his own death in 1963.

Early life

A foundation pupil of the Ratana Pa school, Paikea started work in the Native Affairs Ministry. He led the Ratana Morehu Brass Band, and organized the special train which took the Ratana followers from the Tai Tokerau area in the Far North to Ratana for the annual festivals.

Political career

From his win in a by-election in 1943, Paikea worked for Ratana and Maori issues. His maiden speech covered the economic and social contribution of the Maori war effort, Maori cultural pride and equal treatment for Maori and Pakeha. As a Member of Parliament for the Far North and based in Auckland, Paikea had a special emphais for Tai Tokerau land claims and the needs of Maori moving to the city.

References

* Henderson, James Mcleod (1963). "Ratana The Man, The Church, The Movement" (1st ed.) A.H & A.W. Reed Ltd ISBN 0-589-00619-3.