A descendant of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe and Tūhourangi, Sir Hirini was an educator, author, iwi leader and one of the curators of the landmark Te Māori exhibition.
In the 2006 Queen’s Birthday honours he was named a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori and education. He was knighted in 2009.
Born in Hawke's Bay, he was raised during the Great Depression by his grandmother while his mother travelled the country looking for work. He received a scholarship to St Stephen’s Anglican College at Bombay, before transferring to Te Aute College. Sir Hirini became a teacher and moved to the Bay of Plenty, where he became a headmaster. He then travelled and studied overseas, before returning to take up his newly-created post in Wellington.
Te Māori, which toured the United States from 1984-86 before being shown in New Zealand, was a landmark exhibition of Māori art, history and achievement in which Sir Hirini played an integral part. As well as shaping the show and planning it, he was one of the authors of its authoritative catalogue.
Sir Hirini wrote several books including Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori Values. He was chief negotiator for Ngāti Awa during its Treaty settlement with the Crown, and also served on the Waitangi Tribunal. In 1992 he helped to establish Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne and was chairman of its council.
Sir Hirini Mead died on May 29, aged 99.
