Apirana Turupa Ngata was born at Te Araroa on the East Coast on 3 July 1874. In 1905 Ngata contested the Eastern Māori parliamentary seat against the long-standing incumbent, Wī Pere. With solid support from Ngāti Porou, Ngata won by over 750 votes. He was to retain the seat, surviving challenge after challenge, until 1943, becoming in that time 'father' of the House.
He was a superb parliamentarian. A skilled debater, he could fill the parliamentary galleries whenever he rose to speak. He took his duties very seriously and shunned much of the social side of parliamentary life. Ngata played a pivotal role in shaping Māori politics, legislation and was a powerhouse of national politics. He is often referred as New Zealand’s equivalent to Martin Luther King, a beacon of hope and prosperity for the minority.