POMARE, SIR MAUI WIREMU PITI NAERA (1876-1930) was born at Pahou, near Urenui, on 13 Jan 1876, the son of Wiremu Naera Pomare, chief of Ngati-Awa. Pomare was related to Ngati-Toa through his mother, and less closely to the Waikato tribes. He received his early education in the Chatham Islands and at St Stephen's school, Auckland, from which he proceeded to the Boys' High School in Christchurch, and finally to Te Aute College. In the late nineties he went to the United States where he studied medicine at the Medical Missionary College at Chicago and at Battle Creek sanatorium. He took his degree of M.D. at Chicago in 1899.

On his return to New Zealand Pomare was appointed the first medical health officer to the Maori people, and entered upon his task with enthusiasm. He issued year by year valuable reports on the state of his people, and by personal visits and advice did a great deal to arrest the decline of the race both in New Zealand and in Polynesia. At Te Aute he had been one of the founders of the Young Maori party, which taught that the individual should attempt to stand alone, since the communal system of pre-pakeha days was effete, and should no longer be encouraged. Pomare was himself to see tangible results from his policy, which was carried on by his successor Te Rangihiroa (Dr P. H. Buck) when Pomare was elected to Parliament. Pomare represented the Western Maori in Parliament from 1911 till his death. An eloquent and inspiring speaker, he made an early mark in Parliament, and when the Massey Government came into office in 1912 he was member of the executive representing the Maori race. This office he held also in the National Government (1915-19), with the addition of the portfolio of the Cook Islands (1916-19). In the Massey Government of 1919-25 he held these portfolios and was also from 1923 Minister of Health. In this capacity he carried through many measures for the benefit of the Maori and Polynesian people. He again visited the Cook Islands (on which he had made a useful survey in 1906), and was able to note that the population had at length ceased to decline. With Dr Ellison (native health officer) he transferred 40 lepers from Rarotonga to Makogai. Pomare held office continuously also in the Coates ministry (1925-28), in which also he was Minister of Internal Affairs, 1927-28.

In the war of 1914-18 he was chairman of the Maori recruiting board. (C.M.G. 1920; K.B.E. 1922.) He was president of the Polynesian Society and of the Maori Arts and Crafts Board and the Maori Ethnological Research Board.

He died on 27 Jun 1930, being survived by Lady Miria Pomare, O.B.E. 1917 (a daughter of James Woodbine Johnson (q.v.), and Mere Hape, 1854-1935, a chieftainess of Ngati-Kahungunu). Before his death Pomare had prepared many Maori legends and stories for the second volume of Legends of the Maori, which was published in 1934.

N.Z.P.D., pass. (notably 1 Jul 1930); Pomare and Cowan, Legends of the Maori, ii, 1934 (p); App. H.R., 1901-11; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Evening Post and The Dominion, 30 Jun 1930 (pp).

Reference: Volume 2, page 91

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