Sir Paul Reeves

Born in Wellington, Sir Paul Reeves studied at Victoria College (now University), St John’s Theological College in Auckland and in Oxford (UK) on a scholarship (1959-1963).

He rediscovered his Māori heritage while vicar of Ōkato, Taranaki, in the 1960s. His mother, Hilda (Pihemana) was Te Āti Awa from Taranaki. In 1971 he capped his rapid rise in the church by becoming Bishop of Waiapu, a diocese he rejuvenated while boosting Māori participation in church governance. In 1979 he became Bishop of Auckland, then Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand the following year.

On 20 November 1985 Sir Paul became New Zealand’s first Māori Governor-General. He held the position till 1990.

From 1990 to 2000 he work with the United Nations and Commonwealth in a series of global positions, and a number of public positions in Aotearoa. In 2007 he was made a member of the Order of New Zealand.