A Māori leader, educator and historian who has dedicated his life to the betterment of Māori and was instrumental in developing Māori fishing interests has been awarded New Zealand’s highest honour.
Tā (Sir) Tipene O’Regan, 83, has been made a member of the Order of New Zealand as part of the Queen’s birthday honours list. O’Regan was awarded the distinction alongside Dame Silvia Cartwright, a former governor general and the first woman in New Zealand to become a high court judge.
The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, congratulated the recipients. “Sir Tipene O’Regan has been pivotal in improving the economic, cultural and social standing of Māori communities,” she said. “Dame Silvia Cartwright richly deserves our highest honour for her huge contribution across many fields, including women’s health, justice and as our 18th governor general.”
Usually, just 20 members are allowed on the prestigious list, but members may be added to mark special royal or national celebrations, such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. O’Regan and Cartwright’s appointments increase the list to 25 members.
O’Regan, who is also 2022’s New Zealander of the Year, was born to a Ngāi Tahu mother and father of Irish descent. Following his studies in politics and history at Victoria University of Wellington, he became an educator, before being appointed to the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board. There, he negotiated the first major iwi (tribal) settlements against the Crown. He then became the architect and negotiator of the Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlements of 1989 and 1992, and the founding chairman of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission.
Willie Jackson, the Māori development minister, said: “Tā Tipene is known for his work as a shrewd negotiator, but also as an educator and as a public figure whose life has been dedicated to building an inclusive, bicultural nation.”
He was pivotal in bringing about the historic Ngāi Tahu settlements, Jackson said. “Today, the iwi’s assets exceed NZ$1.8bn, and it is a shining example of what can be achieved by Māori through the Treaty settlement process.”
O’Regan told news website Stuff that Monday’s honour had come as a “very substantial surprise” and he would celebrate with his whānau (family).
While there was much work still to be done to reach a healthy bicultural society, he was pleased his contribution towards that had been acknowledged. “I’m pleased for our people,” he said. “You should always recognise, if you’re leading the way as I have, you’ve got more battle scars on your back than your front.”
He said voices of division in society may be more intense now, but had become a much smaller group. “I’ve been able to make a contribution to that, and I’m feeling very happy.”
O’Regan and Cartwright join another 187 people who received honours on Monday, including the appointments of three dames and three knights for services to sport, law, youth, pacific health, human rights and Māori culture.
Ardern said: “To every single person honoured today, I join with those who know you best, and those who have benefitted the most, in thanking you for your mahi [work].”
