Māori rights advocate and long serving NZ Māori Council member Maanu Paul dies

Maanu Paul has died aged 83. Photo / File

By Te Ao Māori News

Māori rights advocate Cletus Maanu Paul (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Manawa) has died aged 83.

The long-serving member of the New Zealand Māori Council was a negotiator in the historic Māori fisheries claim that led to the 1992 Sealord settlement.

He was raised in Murupara and initially trained as a surveyor before switching to teaching in 1974 at Hamilton Teachers' College.

During his first job teaching job at Hamilton Boys High School, he and his students joined the Māori Land March.

Paul worked alongside the former council chairman, the late Sir Graham Latimer, and was involved in other claims, including the Wai 262 claim over the recognition and protection of the cultural and intellectual rights of Māori over indigenous flora and fauna.

A community leader who was passionate about the interests of his iwi, hapū, whānau and te ao Māori, he was also instrumental in establishing the Rangatahi Court at his marae, Wairaka, in Whakatāne, and in 2019 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori.

He is survived by his wife Gwenda, their four children, and many grandchildren.

His tangihanga will be held at Wairaka Marae until his burial on Monday.