Pita Paraone

Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Rewiti Pomare Kingi "Pita" Paraone Template:Post-nominals (30 November 1945 – 26 August 2019) was a New Zealand politician and chairman of the Waitangi National Trust Board. He was a member of the New Zealand First party.

Early life and family

Paraone was born at Kawakawa on 30 November 1945, the son of Kathleen and Tamati Paraone.<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="HBTQ">Template:Cite book</ref> He received his education at Motatau District High School and Bay of Islands College. He earned a Diploma in Business Development at the University of Auckland, and a Diploma in Social Work at Victoria University of Wellington.<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)" /> He also attended the Henley Management College in Henley-on-Thames, England.<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)" />

In 1966, Paraone married Elva Joyce Moore, and the couple went on to have three children.<ref name="HBTQ"/>

Before entering politics, Paraone had a long career in public service spanning several decades.<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)" /> He was a regional director for Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Maori Development.<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)" /> In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal,<ref name="HBTQ"/> and in the 1997 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and the community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He lived in Pakuranga during his first period in parliament.<ref name="MP returns">Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

Template:NZ parlbox header Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox break Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox footer Before entering parliament, Paraone was a board member of New Zealand First (1999–2000) and a member of the Board of Directors (2000–2002).<ref name="Parliamentary bio (2008)" />

He stood in the Template:NZ election link in the Template:NZ electorate link electorate but was unsuccessful.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was ranked 19th on the New Zealand First party list, which was too low to be elected from the list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was first elected to Parliament as a list MP in the 2002 election. In the 2008 general election Paraone was sixth on the New Zealand First list, but the party lost all its parliamentary seats, winning no electorates and polling below the 5% threshold.<ref name="MP returns" />

In December 2009 he was elected a Chairman of the Waitangi National Trust Board, replacing Jeremy Williams. Paraone has been on the board of the Waitangi National Trust since 1997.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2014, Paraone was re-elected as a New Zealand First list MP and was his party spokesperson on Māori Affairs, Treaty of Waitangi Issues, Pacific Island Affairs, and the Office of Treaty Settlements.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the 2017 election however, Paraone was ranked 11th on the New Zealand First list and was not returned to Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> Paraone publicly encouraged his party to support the formation of Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was appointed chair of the Local Government Commission in November 2018 and held this appointment until his death.

Death

Paraone died in Auckland on 26 August 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had undergone cardiac surgery just three weeks prior, but had failed to recover.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The incumbent Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, offered his condolences, stating that he was "deeply saddened" by the death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Current parliamentary biography for Pita Paraone