Former minister We¯tere dies at 83
FORMER Ma¯ori Affairs Minister and Labour MP Koro Tainui We¯tere has died the day after his 83rd birthday.
We¯tere died in the arms of his daughter at Te Kuiti Hospital in the King Country yesterday morning after a battle with prostate cancer.
Born in Te Kuiti in 1935, Koro We¯tere was of Nga¯ti Maniapoto descent. He worked as a farmer in the King Country and served as an potoro in the Ratana Church before moving into public service.
Wetere entered parliament in 1969 and later served as a minister under David Lange’s Labour-led government.
In his time he served as Minister of Ma¯ori Affairs and was known as the forebearer of the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process.
Helen Clark paid tribute to We¯tere, saying he was a ‘‘much valued colleague in Parliament for many years as MP, Minister and Labour stalwart’’.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters expressed his condolences, acknowledging his contribution to the country ‘‘and his remarkable service as a parliamentarian for more than quarter of a century’’.
Koro We¯tere served as Crown Minister for Lands and for Maori Affairs and played a key role in the affairs of his Tainui people.
‘‘He was also instrumental in the complicated resolution of the Maori fisheries settlement during the 1980s. His contributions to New Zealand’s modern society include advances in Te Reo language recognition.
‘‘Koro was highly respected across the divide of politics for his sincerity and integrity. Our deepest condolences are extended to his family and to Nga¯ti Maniapoto for their loss.’’
Ma¯ori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta said We¯tere’s death was a huge loss.
‘‘To Tainui, ManiapotoWaikato in particular he played a significant contribution to Ma¯oridom and was a Labour MP for a significant time.’’
Under his reign as minister, the 1987 Ma¯ori Language Act was passed, something he said was not only for Ma¯ori, but for the whole nation.
In 1990 Wetere caused an uproar by replying to questions in the House in Ma¯ori and refusing to translate.