Eru Potaka-Dewes

Eru Potaka-Dewes (1939 in Ruatoria – 7 August 2009 in Rotorua) was a New Zealand actor, Māori religious leader and activist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Potaka-Dewes

Ngati Porou priest, actor Eru Potaka-Dewes dies

Ngati Porou is mourning firebrand Anglican priest and actor Eru Potaka-Dewes, who died on Thursday.

Born in Ruatoria, Eru Potaka-Dewes attended Waiomatatini Native Primary School, Gisborne Boys High and Otago University, where he gained history and teaching degrees before training for the priesthood, Waatea News reports.

After a period working in Australia, he returned to New Zealand in the mid 1980s to become involved in Maori radicalism, mounting protests on issues like immigration and often challenging the Anglican church on its history and current policies towards Maori.

His screen credits included roles in The Maori Merchant of Venice, The Rainbow Warrior, The Piano and Rapa Nui which was shot on Easter Island.

Ngati Porou kaumatua Koro Dewes says his cousin stood up for the rights of the underprivileged and challenged the way Maori custom was used.

Maori religious leader and activist the Rev Eru Potaka-Dewes died yesterday, aged 70.

Maori party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said Mr Potaka-Dewes, dean of theology at the Maori Anglican Theological College in Rotorua, would be sorely missed by his community.

The other co-leader, Tariana Turia, said he loved nothing better than a vibrant debate on history, Treaty of Waitangi claims, education and rangatiratanga.

Mr Potaka-Dewes was also known for his role in Jane Campion's film The Piano and acting in a love story called Rapa Nui, filmed on Easter Island and produced by Kevin Costner.

As both the instigator and subject of political and legal debate, Mr Potaka-Dewes earned himself the label of Maori radical. In 1986, he argued that appointing Pakeha Wally Hirsch as Race Relations Conciliator was a "smack in the teeth" for Maori.

He took the limelight over his dealings with a German financier and his involvement in the Maori Loans Affair, when he was one of the first to strongly advocate securing a large loan to finance development in the Hokianga.

Mr Potaka-Dewes, of Ngati Porou, Ngati Uepohatu and Te Whanau-o-Pokai, was one of the organisers of the Aotearoa Party, which emerged in 1987 emphasising a need for biculturalism.

In 1988, he was one of seven Maori leaders banned from visiting Paremoremo prison for protesting outside the jail and "holding negative attitudes" towards the staff.

He was also involved in the Maori departments of several Auckland schools and was most recently working as a part-time teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata in Rotorua.

Poroporoaki: Eru Potaka-Dewes

The Maori Party has today expressed their sadness at the passing of Reverend Eru Potaka-Dewes of Ngati Porou, Ngati Uepohatu and Te Whanau-o-Pokai.

“Eru was widely read and loved nothing better than a vibrant debate on history, Treaty of Waitangi claims, education and rangatiratanga,” Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said.

“He has been a passionate commentator and scholar in the field of theological issues, particularly indigenous theology,” Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said.

Fellow co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said Eru’s contribution would be sorely missed.

“The combination of his dramatic talents, and his spiritual faith, made for a unique strength in hui. Whenever he rose to his feet he would make an enduring impression on the issue of the day – whether it be foreshore and seabed; Treaty claims or any of the vast areas of Maori political debate that he loved to contribute to.”

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell said Eru’s passion for defending Maori rights was reflected in the hundreds if not thousands of letters he wrote to local newspapers in Rotorua.

“Eru understood the power of the pen and he would apply it particularly in cases to defend Maori rights or bring a new and refreshing perspective to a debate.

“He and his wife Kiri were absolute troopers for our people and I thank Kiri, his children and mokopuna for sharing him with us.”

Eru was a Dean of Atuatanga at Te Taapapa ki te Manawa o te Wheke – the Dean of Theology at the Maori Anglican Theological College in Rotorua; part-time teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata and life member of the Maori Nurses Council. Eru was also very widely known as an actor having appeared as Old Gobbo in the Maori Merchant of Venice as well as appearances in The Rainbow Warrior; Rapa Nui (produced by Kevin Costner), The Piano; Jubilee and a leading role in the Maori language drama, Tohunga.

Ngati Porou scholar and Anglican theologian, the Rev Eru Potaka-Dewes, has died in Rotorua. Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said Mr Potaka-Dewes would be sorely missed. "Whenever he rose to his feet he would make an enduring impression on the issue of the day – whether it be foreshore and seabed; Treaty claims or any of the vast areas of Maori political debate that he loved to contribute to," Dr Sharples said.

Mr Potaka-Dewes declared he was "true blood Ngati Porou" but also had links to Ngati Uepohatu and Te Whanau-o-Pokai.

Dr Sharples' co-leader, Tariana Turia, said: "Eru was widely read and loved nothing better than a vibrant debate on history, Treaty of Waitangi claims, education and rangatiratanga.

"He has been a passionate commentator and scholar in the field of theological issues, particularly indigenous theology," she said. In recent years Mr Potaka Dewes wrote hundreds of letters to newspapers defending Maori rights.

"Eru understood the power of the pen and he would apply it particularly in cases to defend Maori rights or bring a new and refreshing perspective to a debate," said Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell. Eru was Dean of Theology at the Maori Anglican Theological College in Rotorua, part-time teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata, and life member of the Maori Nurses Council. He was also widely known as an actor having appeared as Old Gobbo in the Maori Merchant of Venice as well as appearances in films: The Rainbow Warrior; Rapa Nui, The Piano; Jubilee and a leading role in the Maori language drama Tohunga .

In 1987 Mr Potaka-Dewes was named in Parliament by then Hobson MP Ross Meurant as a radical activist, something he believed led to his Titirangi home later being raided by police on the eve of Auckland's 1990 Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, they were too late: he had already left for work – as official Anglican chaplain in the Games Village.

In 1991 he established the Aotearoa-NZ Action Committee's Alternative Immigration Office (ANZAC) to act as a Maori "immigration centre" for the "solidarity of indigenous peoples". ANZAC issued its own "passports" but the government of the day objected and reportedly told the Solomon Islands it would lose education aid if it continued to accept the passports.

Mr Potaka-Dewes was fined for refusing to fill out his census form in 1991, and was again charged in 1996 when he repeated the stand because he wanted "Aotearoa" used as well as "New Zealand" on the census form. He pleaded guilty and escaped without penalty. Mr Potaka-Dewes is survived by his wife, Kiri, his children and mokopuna.