Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori
Minister for Māori Development
Minister of Local Government
26 August 2019
PĀNUI PĀPĀHO MEDIA STATEMENT
The Minister of Local Government and Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta says the passing of Northland’s Pita Paraone
will leave a huge gap in Local Government and Māori politics.
Pita Paraone had been a New Zealand First MP after being elected to Parliament in 2002. He had been a spokesman on
Fisheries and Maori Development. He was also a chairman of the Waitangi National Trust Board.
“Pita has held a number of leadership roles within Māori Affairs - Te Puni Kōkiri, the Māori Trustee - Te Tumu Paeroa,
the Maori Language Commission - Te Taura Whiri, the National Waitangi Trust, and more recently the Local Government
Commission.
“I will miss his cheerful and solid contribution to Local Government after he was appointed chair of the Local
Government Commission this year.
“He was a great inspiration, someone you could rely on and a stalwart for ensuring that the outcomes for Māori
contributed to the betterment of New Zealand.
“Pita will be sadly missed and I send my aroha to his wife and whānau,
“We mourn with the people of Ngāti Hine, Ngapuhi and Māoridom - Pita will be remembered fondly,” says Hon Nanaia Mahuta.
ends