Wira Gardiner


Sir Harawira "Wira" Tiri Gardiner is a soldier, public servant and writer. He is Māori, of Ngati Awa, Ngati Pikiao, Whakatohea and Te Whanau-a-Apanui descent.

Early life and personal

Gardiner was born on 4 September 1943 in Whakatāne. He was brought up under whāngai, the Māori custom of open adoption. He received his secondary education in Whakatane and his tertiary education at the University of Canterbury and at King's College London. Gardiner is married to former politician, Hekia Parata. They have two children together and Gardiner has three other children from a previous marriage to former MP Pauline Gardiner, including the film producer Ainsley Gardiner.

Military career

For twenty years Gardiner served in the New Zealand Army as a professional soldier. He saw active service in South Vietnam. He retired from the army in 1983 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Public service

Gardiner's public service career spanned 12 years from 1983 to 1995. During that time he was founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal, the founding General Manager of the Iwi Transition Agency and the founding chief executive of the Ministry of Māori Development. He has also been National Director of Civil Defence, Chair of Te Mangai Paho, and deputy chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana, the trust responsible for advancing the interests of iwi in the development of fisheries. He is the fourth ministerial appointee to the Council of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and is deputy chair of council at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.
Gardiner was Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission from May 2010 to July 2012 and he was appointed Chair of the Board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in November 2010.
In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gardiner was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori. In 2009, following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Works