Pākehā members of Parliament greatly outnumbered Māori on the Native Affairs Committee in 1912. However, at this time the Māori MPs were particularly active, working together to improve Māori health, develop land and foster traditional arts and crafts. James Carroll (middle row, second from right) was Minister of Native Affairs and the first Māori MP to win a general seat, Waiapu. He encouraged younger Māori to stand for Parliament, and in the late 19th century the so-called 'Young Māori Party' (actually a grouping of Māori MPs with differing political views) emerged. Key figures were Apirana Ngata, the member for Eastern Māori (right inset); Taare Parata, Southern Māori (back row, second from right); Māui Pōmare, Western Māori (middle row, left); and Peter Buck (Te Rangi Hīroa), Northern Māori (front row, right).