Mete Paetahi

Mete Paetahi
Formal seated portrait photograph of a man in his 50s wearing a uniform and holding a patu. Formal seated portrait photograph of Mete Paetahi, one of the first four Māori MPs, wearing a uniform and holding a patu.
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Western Maori
In office 1868 – 1870
Personal details
Born	ca. 1813 New Zealand
Died	22 September 1883 Putiki, Wanganui New Zealand
Profession	Māori chief, politician

Mete Kīngi te Rangi Paetahi (ca. 1813 – 22 September 1883) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was one of four Māori elected in the first Māori elections of 1868 for the new Māori electorates in the House of Representatives.

Private life

Paetahi was the chief of the Ngāti Poutama hapu of the Wanganui Region.

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1868–1870	4th	Western Maori		Independent

At the nomination meeting in Wanganui, held at the Courthouse, Mete Paetahi was the only candidate proposed. He was thus elected unopposed. He held a salaried office of Assessor from the Crown, hence a special act, The Mete Kingi Paetahi Election Act, 1868 had to be passed to validate his election.

He represented the electorate of Western Maori from 1868 to 1870. He contested the electorate again at the 1871 general election, but was defeated by Wiremu Parata. Of the three candidates, he came last.

References

New Zealand Parliament
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Western Maori 1868–1870	Succeeded by Wiremu Parata