John Rangihau (original) (raw)

John Te Rangianiwaniwa Rangihau BEM (5 September 1919 – 14 October 1987) was a New Zealand academic and Māori leader of the Ngāi Tūhoe iwi. He was also called Te Nika and Te Rangihau. Rangihau was born at Kuha near . He received his education at Kokako Native School and at Wesley College in Auckland. He fought with the 28th New Zealand (Māori) Battalion in World War II. He worked as a Māori welfare officer for the Department of Maori Affairs and became a recognised leader of the Tuhoe people. From 1957 to 1959, Rangihau completed a diploma in social science at Victoria University.