Parekura horomia biography for kids

New Zealand politician

Parekura Tureia Horomia (9 November 1950 – 29 April 2013^[1]) was a New Zealand Labour Party politician who served as Minister of Māori Affairs between 2000 and 2008.^[2]

Early life

Horomia was born in Tolaga Bay of Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga Hauiti, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāi Tahu descent.

He had seven brothers and sisters. As a schoolboy he used to walk five kilometres to school and back without shoes.^[3]

In his early life, he worked as a manual labourer, then as a printer in the newspaper industry. Later, Horomia became involved in the Department of Labour's East Coast work schemes and was appointed to supervisory positions—rising to general manager of the Community Employment Group by 1992.^{[citation needed]} At the same time, he began to take on a number of prominent positions with Māori community organisations.^{[citation needed]} In 1990, Horomia was awarded the New Zealand 1990