Our History

The whakapapa or story of the contemporary Māori doctors began over 100 years ago when Sir Maui Pomare (Te Atiawa) graduated from the American Missionary College in Chicago.  Four years later Sir Peter Buck – Te Rangihiroa (Ngāti Mutunga/Ngāti Tama) – became the first Māori graduate from the Otago Medical School followed by Tutere Wi Repa (Ngāti Porou) in 1908.   The final member of this famous quartet was Pohau (Ned) Ellison (Ngāi Tahu) who graduated in 1919.  They were the original members of the Māori Medical Practitioners Association, and began the public and community health efforts to improve the health of their people.  

Alongside Sir James Carroll (Ngāti Kahungunu), Sir Apirana Ngata (Ngāti Porou) and other members of the Young Māori Party, they became the driving forces behind the Māori renaissance and development. 

Taken from Dr Paratene Ngata oration given to the annual conference of the RNZCGP, September 2002 

A group of Māori medical practitioners met in 1995 to establish Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa. The inaugural annual meeting (Hui-ā-Tau) took place in 1996, where a constitution was ratified, an executive elected and the legal status of an incorporated society obtained. 

The second Hui-ā-tau was held in early 1998. The first Scientific Conference was held in conjunction with this annual meeting to promote information exchange and present member’s scientific and research work.  Hui-ā-Tau and Scientific conferences have been held annually since then.