Pita Sharples
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| Parl. | Electorate | List Pos. | Party |
| 47th | Tamaki Makaurau | 2 | Māori Party |
Dr. Pita Russell Sharples CBE (born 20 July 1941), a Maori academic and politician, currently co-leads the Maori Party, he currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau(Auckland City) in New Zealand's Parliament.
Sharples, of the Ngati Kahungunu iwi, was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke's Bay. He received his early education at Waipukurau District High School and then at Te Aute College, a prominent Maori school. He then attended the University of Auckland, studying education. After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, and currently works as a Professor of Education.
In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Maori political party. After the foreshore and seabed controversy flared in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia, a minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples began to organize a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauauru seat. This eventually became launched on 7 July 2004 as the Maori Party, of which Sharples became co-leader.
Sharples contested and won the seat of Tamaki Makaurau, the Māori electorate covering urban Auckland, in the General Election on 17 September 2005.
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