Tiaki Omana

Tiaki Omana
Born 18 December 1891
Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Died 24 June 1970
Napier, New Zealand
Relatives John Davies Ormond (grandfather)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose Forward
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1923 New Zealand 1 (0)

Tiaki Omana (18 December 1891 – 24 June 1970), also known by the English name Jack Ormond, was a New Zealand rugby union player and politician. He won the Rātana Movement's fourth Maori electorate of Eastern Maori in 1943 from Āpirana Ngata who had held it since 1905. He was of aristocratic Ngāti Rongomaiwahine descent and was also a grandson of John Davies Ormond, first Superintendent of Hawke's Bay.

Early life

A keen rugby player, Tiaki Omana played Ranfurly Shield matches for his province, Hawke's Bay, and once for the All Blacks in 1923 against a team from New South Wales. Even after joining the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion and fighting in France during World War I, he was still able to play on the wing for the Pioneer Battalion team.

Omana was a sheepfarmer on the isolated Mahia Peninsula before becoming a Member of Parliament.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1943–1946 27th Eastern Maori Labour
1946–1949 28th Eastern Maori Labour
1949–1951 29th Eastern Maori Labour
1951–1954 30th Eastern Maori Labour
1954–1957 31st Eastern Maori Labour
1957–1960 32nd Eastern Maori Labour
1960–1963 33rd Eastern Maori Labour

A koata of the 'second cut', Omana first contested the Tairawhiti electorate of Eastern Maori in 1928, finally winning the electorate in 1943.[1] As a Rātana/Labour member, he raised the issue of land claims, housing and health for Māori, and discrimination in social security. Omana held the electorate until his retirement in 1963,[1] when he returned to farming and to his original Church of England faith.

Ratana name

Tiaki Omana was also referred to as Hamuera after Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana's son Hamuera Ratana, symbol of the end of tohunga witchcraft.

References

  1. 1 2 Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 224. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Āpirana Ngata		 Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori
1943–1963 		Succeeded by
Puti Tipene Watene
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