Papers relating to the life and career of Sir Apirana Ngata

His papers reflect his wide involvement in many areas of Maori life. They include correspondence (personal and official), reports, administrative files, papers relating to his Parliamentary career and his involvement in local issues and concerns. Subject areas include loan development schemes, instructions on sheepfarming, park boards, records of various stations, the School of Maori Arts, constituency matters, land blocks, meeting houses and marae, the Maori Battalion and similar topics.

Further summary information is provided in series descriptions

Source of title - Supplied

Relationship complexity - Researchers should be aware that some key papers of Sir Apirana Ngata have come to the Library separately and are not part of this collection. These separate holdings include (i) Extensive correspondence between Ngata and Sir Peter Buck and other Ngata papers included in the Eric Ramsden papers (MS-Papers-0196) (ii) Ngata's correspondence on ethnological matters and his correspondence and working notes for `Nga Moteatea' held as part of the New Zealand Maori Purposes Fund Board papers (MS-Papers-0189) (iii) Microfilm of Ngata family Ngati Porou research material provided to the Library for copying by Mr Amster Reedy on behalf of the Ngata family (iv) other smaller collections from various sources including a 1897-1899 letterbook and family correspondence recently purchased by the Library (MS-Group-0903).

Arrangement: The papers have been well looked after prior to coming to the Library, but most were not in any filing system, apart from one major sequence of papers, mainly from the 1940s, in a numerical registration sequence (series 2). This series has been maintained.

The remaining papers have been grouped into series broadly relating to Ngata's major activities. Researchers need to be aware that other papers relating to these activities will also be found in series 2.

The date range of materials falls outside Ngata's own life time because the collection has been added to over the years.

Sir Apirana Ngata was one of the most influential Maori leaders of the twentieth century. He was a lawyer and politician who was elected to Parliament as the member for Eastern Maori, retaining his seat until 1943. He took a leading role in fostering Maori land development and a revival of traditional Maori culture, as well as an active interest in local Maori affairs, education, health, incorporation, agriculture and other concerns.

Quantity: 886 folder(s). 10 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Holograph, mss, typescripts and printed matter

Provenance: Owned by descendents living in Ruatoria

Transfers: Collection as a whole received into Manuscripts and Archives, material transferred to the Ephemera collection and the Photographic Archive - To Photographic Archive - 1 folder of photographs, and 1 folder containing a photograph of an unidentified soldier (located at PAColl-6649) - To Ephemera Collection - Medal issued to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 1937 - To Photographic Archive - 4 black and white original photographic prints (PAColl-7894) from A2002-066.

Processing information: The collection is currently being arranged and described.