Dr Paratene Ngata recognised
Public Health Association media release 16 January 2009
Kua mate a Takuta Paratene Ngata. He taniwha ia. Kua hinga he rata nui i roto i te aonui o Tane. Ko Paratene he tangata
rongonui kei roto i te ao Maori, nga motu o Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, me Aotearoa hoki. No Ngati Porou ia.
He mate pukupuku te mate o Paratene. I tere tona mate atu. I kaha hoki ia ki te whaiwhai i tona mate. Ka nehua ia ki
Maungatuna i roto o tona iwi a Ngati Porou.
Ka tangi tonu matou rere noa tona wairua mai Hauiti marae. Haere haere haere ki to moeanga roa. Moemai, moemai
whakangaro atu.
The Public Health Association has paid tribute to the work of Dr Paratene (“Pat”) Ngata, who died earlier this week, at
62, after a long illness.
Dr Ngata’s work was celebrated by the PHA in 2000, when he was named that year’s Public Health Champion.
“Dr Ngata’s ability to not only treat a patient effectively and compassionately, but also to see the person as part of a
wider family and social environment led to many public health initiatives empowering individuals and communities to act
to improve their own well being,” says Dr Gay Keating, National Executive Officer of the Public Health Association.
One such programme, with high visibility across Maori and wider New Zealand, was “Men for Change”. Men who had formerly
been violent in their families encouraged other men to also stop using violence.
Dr Keating said Dr Ngata’s award in 2000 also encouraged more Maori participation in the PHA, evident at its 2003 annual
conference at Turangawaewae (Ngarauawahia) which was organised by the PHA’s Maori Caucus.
“While Dr Ngata contributed to public health, his contribution to clinical medicine was also great. For many years Dr
Ngata’s humour, wit and leadership has influenced the training of many young doctors in New Zealand. In doing so he has
influenced the delivery of both primary and secondary health care to better serve Maori,” says Dr Keating.
ENDS