Matiu Rata

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Matiu Rata
Born	1934 Te Hāpua, New Zealand
Died	1997 New Zealand

Matiu Rata was a New Zealand Māori politician who was Minister of Lands and Minister of Maori Affairs in the Third Labour Government of New Zealand between 1972 and 1975. He was the architect of both the Māori Affairs Amendment Act of 1974, which gave Māori greater control over their land, and the 1975 Waitangi Tribunal. In 1979 he resigned from the Labour Party and formed the Mana Motuhake Party to contest the resulting by-election.

Following his exit from Parliament Matiu Rata was the leader of the Muriwhenua in presenting their Treaty of Waitangi claims to the Waitangi Tribunal, resulting in a settlement of Māori fishing claims for the tribes of the Far North.