She could be our first Maori MP. But who is Harete Hipango?

Harete Hipango

Harete Hipango seems destined to follow in the footsteps of her chiefly ancestors - leaders and defenders of a community that she is deeply rooted in, and adores.

As the National Party's candidate for this year's general election she is posied to potentially become Whanganui's first Maori MP.

Ms Hipango traces her chiefly lineage to her great-great grandfather rangatira Hoani Wiremu who held sovereign authority and dominion over Whanganui and the lower reaches of the Whanganui river, before and during colonial settlement.

He was mortally wounded in February 1865 at Moutoa Island fighting off Hauhau, in defence of his sovereign domain and for the protection of the citizens of Whanganui.

His son, Ms Hipango's great grandfather Waata Hipango, was also a protector of his dominion, and gifted to Whanganui land up the Whanganui River to the citizens of Whanganui and now known as Hipango Park.

Waka in Te Papa Museum and the Whanganui Regional Museum were also placed by Waata into the care of these institutions. As descendant Ms Hipango is guardian of those treasures and holds governance roles with both museums.

Major Kemp - Keepa Te Rangihiwinui another of her tupuna was a loyal servant and great leader to the people- Maori and settlers of Whanganui and Taranaki. His mother Rere o Maki, chieftainess of Putiki, was the only woman of these regions to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1874 Major Kemp was awarded the NZ Cross and in 1876 the NZ War Medal in recognition of his military services to the crown, government, nation and people.

Ms Hipango describes herself as a vibrant, engaging 52 year old woman, mother, wife, daughter, grandchild, family person, friend and member of the Whanganui and South Taranaki communities. Her tribal ancestral lineage and links is rooted in Te Atihaunui a Paparangi (Whanganui) and Nga Rauru (South Taranaki).

"I have lived my life in Whanganui, taking leave for approximately seven years in pursuit of higher education, returning to raise and nurture my children whilst actively working, engaging and participating in our community for 45-plus years."

She has worked as a lawyer for almost 30 years in Whanganui, and with husband Dean MacFater have three children and is a member of the Whanganui District Health Board, among many other community involvements.

"My husband and I have worked hard. We have endured hardship. We do not come from privilege other than that which our parents and grandparents instilled and imparted in us to be cared for by family, to belong to a community, to give willingly, to work hard, to never give up, to not expect or be entitled to anything but to be prepared to create, access, source and give shape, form and value to that which we strive for and seek."

Ms Hipango was born to a second generation Irish-Scottish Catholic mother, Eileen Shaw, and her father Hoani Hipango, of Whanganui Maori-Scottish ancestry, and an Anglican.

She was baptised a Catholic and was educated at Queen's Park School, convent school at St Mary's Primary, St Joseph's Intermediate and Sacred Heart College. She was Deputy head girl and an avid athlete and keen student.

"Whanganui is the fundamental foundation of our family. Our commitment being born, raised, returning, remaining and engaged in Whanganui and our Whanganui communities defines us.

"I have given a life-time of service to my community. I have walked and worked all social sectors of our community, urban, rural, privilege, deprivation, healthy, sick, educated, challenged, wealthy, poor, across cultural divides and cross-cultural divides.

"My service has been to our local communities - service as a lawyer, volunteer and supporter, as a governor, as a fully participating and contributing member of our community.

"I have worked grass-roots and toiled long and hard. I grew up amidst working class and hardship. I remember always working on the farm, every spare moment when not at school or attending Sunday School and church service on weekends.

"My chosen career and life path has been about people - often aiding in times of need, distress, conflict, adversity and often in greatest times of need.

Ms Hipango says her values are National Party values. "I was raised with a sense of duty and loyalty. It is the fabric of my family and ancestry."

She doesn't talk policies - that she says will come later as the election campaign winds up. But she says her networks are robust, diverse and extensive and that she has the confidence of many at the local, regional and national levels.

"Locally I have established enduring relationships with the business and farming sectors, community, police, education, health, justice, welfare, arts, and cultural sectors. My reach is diverse, far and wide."

She stands for core values of hard-work, strong family and community "sufficiently independent of the state to provide", community participation, accountability and responsibility, expectation to learn, educate and attain, personal responsibility, to care for others than self, to care for and respect each other and the environment, to responsibly invest in resources such as children, families, health, education, community, environment and assets.

"I am a bridge and I bridge the worlds I have been raised in - Te Ao Pakeha and Te Ao Maori - the world and ways of the Pakeha - the world and ways of the Maori.

"I am a product of these worlds. I am Pakeha. I am Maori. My children and I represent a nation of promise, prospect, opportunity, enterprise and prosperity, reliant on the foundation of family and community."