Rangi Mawhete

Who is Rangi Mawhete?

Rangiputangatahi Mawhete, born as William Arthur Moffatt and commonly known as Rangi Mawhete, was a New Zealand land agent, interpreter and politician. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Muaūpoko and Rangitāne iwi. He was born in Tiakitahuna, Manawatu/Horowhenua, New Zealand on 4 March 1880. He was a grandson of the Rangitane chief Te Aweawe, and educated at Te Aute College.

He unsuccessfully stood for Western Maori; in 1914 with an unknown political affiliation, in 1922 as an Independent, and in 1925 for Labour. He organised a 1931 meeting between Ratana and Labour and organised the 1932 Māori Labour conference. In 1935 he warned against an exclusive Ratana-Labour alliance as dividing rather than uniting Māori.

He was a member of the Legislative Council for two terms from 9 March 1936 to 8 March 1950.