Rangi Mawhete
Rangiputangatahi Mawhete, born as William Arthur Moffatt and commonly known as Rangi Mawhete, was a New Zealand land agent, interpreter and politician.
Early life
Of Māori descent, he identified with the Muaūpoko and Rangitāne iwi. He was born in Tiakitahuna, Manawatu/Horowhenua, New Zealand on 4 March 1880. He was a grandson of the Rangitane chief Te Aweawe, and educated at Te Aute College.Political career
He unsuccessfully stood for Western Maori; in with an unknown political affiliation, in 1922 as an Independent, and in 1925 for [New Zealand New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party|Labour]. He organised a 1931 meeting between Ratana and Labour and organised the 1932 Māori Labour conference. In 1935 he warned against an exclusive Ratana-Labour alliance as dividing rather than uniting Māori.He was a member of the Legislative Council for two terms from 9 March 1936 to 8 March 1950.
In 1953, Mawhete was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. In the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Māori people.