Tame Parata

The Honourable Tame Parata
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Southern Maori
In office 1885–1911
Preceded by	Hori Kerei Taiaroa
Succeeded by	Taare Parata
Personal details
Born	c.1837 Ruapuke Island, New Zealand
Died	6 March 1917(1917-03-06) Puketeraki, near Karitane, New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Peti Hurene (Elizabeth Brown)
Relations	Taare Parata (son) Ned Parata (son) Hekia Parata (g-g-granddaughter)

Tame Parata (c.1837 – 6 March 1917), also known as Thomas Pratt, was a Māori and a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1885–1887	9th	Southern Maori		Independent
1887–1890	10th	Southern Maori		Independent
1890–1893	11th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1893–1896	12th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Southern Maori		Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Southern Maori		Liberal

Parata was born on Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait. His father was a Captain Trapp, a whaler from Massachusetts, and his mother was Koroteke of the Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha tribes. It is said that Tame reversed his father's name to Pratt, and transliterated it to Parata in Māori.

He won the Southern Maori electorate in the 1885 by-election after the resignation of Hori Kerei Taiaroa, and held it to 1911, when he retired; he was succeeded in the electorate by his youngest son, Taare Parata. Subsequently on 13 June 1912 Parata Sr was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council, where he sat until he died on 6 March 1917. Hekia Parata, a current member of Parliament, is his great-great-granddaughter.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Hori Kerei Taiaroa	Member of Parliament for Southern Maori 1885–1911	Succeeded by Taare Parata