Skip to main content

Story: Tōrangapū – Māori and political parties

First Māori MPs: Frederick Nene Russell

Image
First Māori MPs: Frederick Nene Russell

Frederick Nene Russell was the son of a Hokianga timber trader and his Māori second wife, Herina Tuku. In 1868 the Hokianga prophet Āperahama Taonui was chosen by northern chiefs to become the region's first Māori MP. However, Taonui refused to campaign and Frederick Nene Russell was elected unopposed.

Using this item

Hokianga History and Memorabilia

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Ann Sullivan, Tōrangapū – Māori and political parties – Creating a Māori electoral system, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/37122/first-maori-mps-frederick-nene-russell (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ann Sullivan, published 15 June 2012, updated 26 February 2026.