Eruera Tirikātene, 1895-1967 (Ngāi Tahu)

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Eruera Tirikātene speaks for the Southern Māori Electorate.

Tirikātene was born at Rakiwhakaputa Pā near Kaiapoi. He spent long periods of time with his great uncle Aperahama Te Aika at Tūāhiwi learning whakapapa and traditional Ngāi Tahu lore. Educated at Kaiapoi Native and Kaiapoi District High Schools, he resented being punished for speaking Māori and being forced to consider it a second language. He travelled with the 2nd contingent for World War One attaining the rank of Sergeant and was noted for his bravery carrying wounded men on his back while “under fire”. He was elected Māori Member for Southern Māori in a by-election on the death of the incumbent member Tuiti Makitanara in 1932.

Image Credit: Eruera Tirikātene. Framegrab from "Weekly Review 232: Maori Battalion Returns", NFU, 1946 (F726 Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision)