Field and Context

In 1905, he was elected the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastern Maori, holding the seat for nearly 40 years. He served in government as Minister of Native Affairs from 1928 to 1934. In this he tried to accomplish as many reforms for Māori as possible, although he was forced to resign as minister in a widely publicised spending scandal. Interpretation should remain tied to dated works and institutional records.