Age, Biography and Wiki

Wira Gardiner (Harawira Tiri Gardiner) was born on 4 September, 1943 in Whakatāne, New Zealand, is a New Zealand public servant (1943–2022). Discover Wira Gardiner's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 78 years old?

Popular As Harawira Tiri Gardiner
Occupation Soldier, public servant and writer
Age 78 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born 4 September 1943
Birthday 4 September
Birthplace Whakatāne, New Zealand
Date of death 17 March, 2022
Died Place Gisborne, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 4 September. He is a member of famous writer with the age 78 years old group.

Wira Gardiner Height, Weight & Measurements

At 78 years old, Wira Gardiner height not available right now. We will update Wira Gardiner's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Not Available
Sibling Not Available
Children 5

Wira Gardiner Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Wira Gardiner worth at the age of 78 years old? Wira Gardiner’s income source is mostly from being a successful writer. He is from New Zealand. We have estimated Wira Gardiner's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income writer

Wira Gardiner Social Network

Instagram
Linkedin
Twitter
Facebook
Wikipedia
Imdb

Timeline

1928

Gardiner published a number of books on topics related to New Zealand history and the Māori world, including the 28th Māori Battalion, race relations in New Zealand, a biography of politician Parekura Horomia and the art form of haka.

He also published a book in response to Jim Bolger's government's “fiscal envelope” cap on Treaty of Waitangi settlements, which would have limited compensation for all Māori claims to $1 billion.

1943

Sir Harawira Tiri Gardiner (4 September 1943 – 17 March 2022) was a New Zealand soldier, public servant, and writer.

He was Māori, of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatōhea, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui descent.

Gardiner was born on 4 September 1943 in Whakatāne.

He was brought up under whāngai, the Māori custom of open inner family adoption.

He received his secondary education in Whakatane and his tertiary education at the University of Canterbury (BA) and at King's College London (MA War Studies).

Gardiner was married to former member of parliament Hekia Parata.

They had two children together and Gardiner had three other children from a previous marriage to former member of parliament Pauline Gardiner, including the film producer Ainsley Gardiner.

For twenty years Gardiner served in the New Zealand Army as a professional soldier.

He saw active service in South Vietnam.

1983

He retired from the army in 1983 at the rank of lieutenant colonel; at the time he was the army's highest-ranked Māori officer.

Gardiner's public service career spanned 38 years from 1983 to 2021.

During that time he was founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal, the founding (and only) General Manager of the Iwi Transition Agency and the founding chief executive of the Ministry of Māori Development (Te Puni Kokiri).

He was also 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 was the fourth ministerial appointee to the council of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and deputy chair of council at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.

1984

In 1984 he stood for selection in the East Cape electorate after Duncan MacIntyre retired.

Unsuccessful, he tried again ahead of the following election and was selected.

At the election he was defeated by the incumbent Labour Party MP Anne Fraser.

2008

In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gardiner was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori.

2009

On 1 July 2009, Gardiner was appointed to the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the following year, he was named as board chair.

Gardiner was appointed acting chief executive of Oranga Tamariki in 2021 following the resignation of Gráinne Moss, in an attempt to restore confidence in the agency following the 2019 controversy over the uplifting of Māori babies from their families.

Gardiner was a member of the National Party.

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.

2010

Gardiner was chair of the Tertiary Education Commission from May 2010 to July 2012.

2012

In 2012, Gardiner was hospitalised with suspected pancreatic cancer but was discharged after five days with a clean bill of health.

2016

Following Hekia Parata's retirement from Parliament in 2016, Prime Minister John Key suggested that Parata had resigned because of Gardiner's ill-health, something which Parata refuted, saying that Gardiner was healthy.

In October 2021 Gardiner resigned his role as acting chief executive of Oranga Tamariki because of an illness.

Gardiner died at his home in Gisborne on 17 March 2022, aged 78.

At his request, a tangihanga was not held at his marae, as he was concerned about the risk of any gathering in spreading COVID-19 and causing pressure on the public health system.

Following Gardiner's death, many tributes were paid to Gardiner's impact on New Zealand society.

Matthew Tukaki said that Gardiner was "more than a soldier or leader to him, he was an agent of change, a servant of the people and someone who made a real difference."

David Parker described him as "A former military man, a leader within Māoridom, [who gave] huge service to the National Party itself but also to public service."