NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Māori leader Sir Ngātata Love dies

Michael  Neilson
By Michael Neilson
Senior political reporter, NZ Herald·NZ Herald·
22 Oct, 2018 07:06 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Sir Ngātata Love has died. Photo / File

Sir Ngātata Love has died. Photo / File

Māori leader, academic and businessman Sir Ngātata Love has died.

Love, 81, died peacefully at his Korokoro home on Wednesday last week, surrounded by loving whānau.

Born in Lower Hutt, Love was a powerful advocate for Māori throughout the lower North Island, working with various groups on Waitangi Tribunal claims and land issues.

He was a professor in business studies, managed the Wellington Tenths Trust and the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Land Trust, and served terms as chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Māori Development.

He was awarded a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington in 1978, and eventually became Emeritus Professor at both Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Controversy hit in 2016 when, while in poor health, Love was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for obtaining property by deception.

He and his former partner, the late Lorraine Skiffington, used a $1.5 million payment from a land developer, given as a premium for access to valuable land owned by the Wellington Tenths Trust, to repay most of a mortgage on a Plimmerton house they co-owned.

Love appealed his conviction and sentence last year citing he suffered from dementia and was not mentally fit to stand trial, but it was turned down by the Court of Appeal.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Sir Ngātata Love and then-Prime Minister Sir John Key hongi during 2009 after signing an historic Crown apology. Photo / File
Sir Ngātata Love and then-Prime Minister Sir John Key hongi during 2009 after signing an historic Crown apology. Photo / File

He was released on parole a year ago after less than a year of his sentence.

Dame Tariana Turia said Love was " dedicated to doing his best for Māoridom".

"His commitment over his lifetime was massive and we must not let the recent years of his downfall redefine the considerable sacrifices and leadership he had made for decades before.

"His legacy of service was impressive and I will always be thankful for his support and his guidance."

Discover more

Business

Crown seeks jail time for Ngatata Love

05 Oct 11:56 PM
Kahu

Sir Ngatata Love loses fraud appeal

26 Jun 12:40 AM
Business

Ngatata Love to be released from jail

16 Aug 03:12 AM
Business

Lorraine Skiffington dies after illness

08 Sep 01:08 AM

Turia said she fondly recalled the support he gave her when she was first made a minister in the 1999 government.

"Having the right people to give expression to your aspirations is key to being an effective minister.

"Ngātata knew that – and he was prepared to search wide in order to find the team to help me make change. I will always give him the utmost respect for that."

Love's contributions to New Zealand were recognised when he was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) in 2001, and a Knight Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM) in 2008.

The previous Government left the decision on whether or not to strip Love of his knighthood following his conviction to the next Government.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today said the Cabinet office had confirmed an honour could not be cancelled once a person had died.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"No further steps can therefore be taken in this matter."

A statement from Love's whānau and Reverend Charles Waldegrave described him as an "active and passionate worker for Māori [who] supported many people who wanted to provide better lives for their whānau".

"From a young age, Ngātata travelled throughout Taranaki, Whanganui and Ratana Pa at his father's side absorbing the accounts of injustice from his elders.

"He felt the mamae (hurt) of his people early on and his life would be defined by the fight for justice and fairness for his people.

"His kaumatua experienced the Taranaki land wars, and many were also subject to mock trials, media vilification and wrongful imprisonment.

"He actively fought against land sales and mismanagement of Māori Reserve Lands by successive government-appointed Māori Trustees.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He worked with others to abolish the discriminatory Māori Reserved Land laws that bound Māori landowners to perpetually leased lands at peppercorn rentals.

"He also led the Muru Raupatu Waitangi Tribunal claims processes in Taranaki and Wellington, laying the foundations for the Treaty Settlements enjoyed by those groups today."

It was "very sad the latter years of his life were drowned unsuccessfully defending himself from accusations of fraud", the statement read.

"A considerable proportion of those who were informed and understood the complexities of the case, seriously question that judgement. As with other cases of legal doubt in New Zealand, his side of the story will emerge in time.

"His whānau and supporters will continue to fight to right the injustices he endured in his latter years. Just as he spent his life fighting to right the injustices suffered by his tupuna and many others, his family will fight to right this one."

Love is survived by five children, 35 mokopuna and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, whanaunga and friends.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

As requested by Love, a private service was held for him on Friday, October 19.

A public memorial service will be held at Pipitea Marae, 55-59 Thorndon Quay, at 1.30pm this Sunday, October 28.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

live
New Zealand

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up efforts begin

11 Jul 07:33 PM
New Zealand

'The public have a right to know': Judge denies man with cache of child abuse files anonymity

11 Jul 07:00 PM
New Zealand

St John defends decision not to send ambulance to toddler who broke jaw in fall

11 Jul 06:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up efforts begin
live

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up efforts begin

11 Jul 07:33 PM

The North Island is expected to get off to a wet start this morning, with lingering rain.

'The public have a right to know': Judge denies man with cache of child abuse files anonymity

'The public have a right to know': Judge denies man with cache of child abuse files anonymity

11 Jul 07:00 PM
St John defends decision not to send ambulance to toddler who broke jaw in fall

St John defends decision not to send ambulance to toddler who broke jaw in fall

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Green light for fires on Napier beaches after council quietly revokes bylaw

Green light for fires on Napier beaches after council quietly revokes bylaw

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP