A revered figure of national significance to Te Puni Kōkiri, Māori, and all of Aotearoa, his influence and expertise spanned further across te ao, where he worked with governments in Japan, Mexico, and Solomon Islands.

Dr Puketapu was a dedicated public servant for years working in Internal Affairs, Māori Affairs, Child Welfare, Social Security Department, State Services Commission, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

His public service career included six years as Secretary of Māori Affairs and Māori Trustee from 1977- 1983. He was the second Māori appointed to the role, an indication of the significance of the Māori Renaissance at that time.

As Secretary of Māori Affairs, Dr Puketapu introduced the philosophy of Tū Tangata (Stand Tall) centred on community-based Māori development. The overall aim being to promote cultural and economic advancement through encouraging self-reliance and self-determination at community levels.

Tū Tangata recognised the value of whānau and encouraged whānau to become involved in the planning and implementation of solutions to existing problems, and to suggest and promote new developmental initiatives. Dr Puketapu planted the early seeds of a whānau-centred approach.

He is renowned for forging a new direction for the Department, to empower Māori development in response to the difficulties being faced by Māori in the urban environment. His 1982 book Reform from Within outlines his philosophy. He wrote other books: The Community Service: Department of Māori Affairs, Māori Tourism, and Tu Tangata: A Management Perspective, and he also wrote poetry.

Under his leadership, several Kōkiri units were established in the Wellington area. These units worked with local communities to devise programmes to support cultural and economic aspirations, thus reversing the normal 'top down' approach of government departments.

Dr Puketapu was responsible for gathering Wellington iwi representatives and tribal leaders regularly to discuss policies and other matters.

Under the leadership of Dr Puketapu, more than 120 Māori leaders assembled at the Tū Tangata Wananga Whakatauira, held in the legislative chambers at Parliament in July 1981. They discussed revitalising te reo Māori, education, employment, health, and keeping Māori out of prison.

At one of these meetings in 1979 a decision was made that for the Māori language to survive, language learning needed to start from birth. From this Te Kōhanga Reo was born.

As Secretary of Māori Affairs Dr Puketapu was also fundamental to the accomplishment of the Te Māori exhibition being delivered through the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He chaired the management committee of Te Māori which was the first international exhibition of Māori objects as art.

After a triumphant run at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Saint Louis Art Museum and the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, Te Māori toured Aotearoa with resounding success.

As a community leader, he chaired Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui. He instilled the Tamaiti Whāngai iwi-based philosophy that focuses on fostering strong whānau using a whole of community approach, where whānau wellbeing is core.

During his tenure he supported the opening of a Kōhanga Reo based at Waiwhetu Marae, one of the first to be opened. He helped establish the Te Āti Awa health service, Āti Awa Toa FM radio station, and was always a guiding voice to his people on and off the pae.

Born to prominent leader Īhāia Porutu Puketapu and Vera May Yeates, his father Īhāia was trained by the prophet Te Whiti-o-Rongomai at Parihaka. He was instrumental in negotiating land and housing for Te Āti Awa which is now Waiwhetu Grove in Lower Hutt. The house, Arohanui ki te Tangata, has become a central point for the Rūnanganui to hold hui, tangi, and host government and international visitors. Inside the house are two carving representing the two prophets Te Whiti and Tohu Kākahi.

Dr Puketapu was a highly regarded sportsman in his youth, having played rugby for Petone, then as a Wellington representative and was selected as a Māori All Black.

In later years, Dr Puketapu coached the Wainuiomata Rugby League team which, in the 1990s, won three national titles and competed in two World Sevens Tournaments in Australia representing New Zealand.

In 1967-68 Dr Puketapu was awarded the Harkness Fellowship of the Commonwealth Fund and attended Graduate School at the Centre for Urban Studies at the University of Chicago where he completed master’s study in urban ecology.

In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Victoria University for his lifetime contribution to the development of opportunities for Māori.

In 2015 Dr Puketapu was acknowledge by Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori at the 40^th anniversary of the te reo Māori initiative, and in the presence of government officials, te reo Māori advocates, and whānau, at Waiwhetu Marae, for his lifetime contribution to te reo Māori.

In 2019 Te Waka Toi (Māori Arts Council) awarded Dr Puketapu the Te Māori Award: Recognising Leadership in the Development of the Te Māori Exhibition.

In 2021 Dr Puketapu received Te Huihuinga o Matariki - Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognise and celebrate his passion, innovation, and dedication to making a difference to our communities and our country. He received this award for innovations including Hui Taumata, the kohanga reo movement and Tu Tangata (Stand Tall) programme, creating Kōkiri, or community-based training centres, and leading reforms of the Māori Land Court, and his work on the 1980s exhibition, Te Māori.

Dr Kara Puketapu will be remembered as a rangatira, internationally, nationally, and especially for Te Āti Awa.

He dedicated more than years to Māori economic and community development as a public servant, Māori leader, and rūnanga leader.

His achievements in the public service are immense, have endured and will continue to influence te ao Māori for many more years to come.

Thank you for your service, your insightfulness, your leadership, and your navigation.

As Pōhutukawa appears, we remember those being returned home.

Haere, haere, haere atu rā.

More information

• Message from the Hon Willie Jackson, Minister for Māori Development [LINK to external website]

Biography

Dr Ihakara (Kara) Porutu Puketapu (Te Āti Awa) was with us from 26 February 1934 until 7 July 2023. Born to prominent leader Īhāia Porutu Puketapu and Vera May Yeates, and a descendent of Te Āti Awa.

Education

Ihakara was educated at Waiwhetu School and Wellington Technical College where he became school dux and head prefect. He graduated with a B.A. in Geography and Education and also completed a Social Science Diploma at Victoria University.

In 1967-68 Dr Puketapu was awarded the Harkness Fellowship of the Commonwealth Fund and attended Graduate School at the Centre for Urban Studies at the University of Chicago where he completed a master’s degree in urban ecology. In 1968 he attended the University of New Mexico and completed further masters level work in cultural anthropology and doctoral research on "Pueblo: Indian Community Development.”

Public Service

His public service career included working in Internal Affairs, Māori Affairs, Child Welfare and the Social Security Department.

• 1953 – Social Science cadet – Child Welfare
• 1957 – Welfare Officer - Child Welfare
• 1962-64 – Inspector - Efficiency and Economy at the Department of Māori Affairs.
• 1965-67 – Inspector - Efficiency and Economy at the State Services Commission.
• 1969-71 – Chief Administrative Officer at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• 1971-73 – Senior Inspector - Efficiency and Economy at the State Services Commission.
• 1973-75 – Administrative Secretary to the New Zealand High Commissioner.
• 1975-76 – Assistant Commissioner responsible for the Public Service, Management Services, Staff Training and Government Computer Services at the State Services Commission.
• 1976-77 – Assistant Commissioner, Management Audit, at the State Services Commission.
• 1977-83 – Secretary of Māori Affairs and Māori Trustee, the second Māori appointed to the role, at the Department of Māori Affairs.

During his tenure at Māori Affairs, Dr Puketapu was instrumental in Te Kōhanga Reo movement and the Tu Tangata (Stand Tall) programme, creating Kōkiri, or community-based training centres, and leading reforms of the Māori Land Court, as well as guiding the successful 1980s art exhibition, Te Māori.

Leader to his people

As a community leader, he chaired Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui. He instilled the Tamaiti Whāngai iwi-based philosophy that focuses on fostering strong whānau using a whole of community approach, where whānau wellbeing is core.

Some of his achievements include the opening of a kōhanga reo based at Waiwhetu Marae - one of the first to be opened, helping establish the Te Āti Awa health service, Atiawa Toa FM radio station, and he was always a guiding voice to his people on and off the pae.

Sporting achievements

Dr Puketapu was highly regarded sportsman in his youth, having played rugby for Petone, then as a Wellington representative. He was selected as a Māori All Black. In later years, Dr Puketapu coached the Wainuiomata Rugby League team which, in the 1990s, won three national titles and competed in two World Sevens Tournaments in Australia representing New Zealand.

Accolades

In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Victoria University for his lifetime contribution to the development of opportunities for Māori.

In 2015 Dr Puketapu was acknowledge by Te Taura Whiri at the 40^th anniversary of the te reo Māori initiative, and in the presence of government officials, te reo Māori advocates, and whānau, at Waiwhetu Marae, for his lifetime contribution to te reo Māori.

In 2019 Te Waka Toi (Māori Arts Council) awarded Dr Puketapu the Te Māori Award: Recognising Leadership in the Development of the Te Māori Exhibition.

In 2021 Dr Puketapu received Te Huihuinga o Matariki - Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognise and celebrate his passion, innovation, and dedication to making a difference to our communities and our country. He received this award for innovations including Hui Taumata, the kohanga reo movement and Tu Tangata (Stand Tall) programme, creating Kōkiri, or community-based training centres, and leading reforms of the Māori Land Court, and his work on the 1980s exhibition, Te Māori.