Charlie Crofts | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Crofts in 2017 | |
| Born | Charles Stuart Te Manemoeroa Crofts (1943-12-00)December 1943 Tuahiwi, New Zealand |
| Died | 26 February 2024(2024-02-26) (aged 80) |
| Other names | Uncle Charlie |
| Occupation | Māori leader |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Charles Stuart Te Manemoeroa CroftsONZM (December 1943 – 26 February 2024) was a New Zealand Māori leader of theNgāi Tahuiwi.[1]
Charlie Crofts was born in December 1943 inTuahiwi,[2] as the youngest son of Edward and Metapere Ngawini Crofts (nee Barrett). He learned about theNgāi Tahu Claim through his grandfather William Barrett. Crofts served for 20 years in the New Zealand army. He left the army in 1985 and worked as a taxi driver. It was during this time that he became involved with Koukourarata Rūnanga, to support thewhānau living atPort Levy. Crofts was elected the chairperson of Koukourarata Rūnanga, which involved him with the Ngaitahu Māori Trust Board. In 1990, he was appointed the Koukourarata Representative for Te Rūnanganui o Tahu, and was promoted to kaiwhakahaere soon afterwards. WhenTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu was established in 1996, Crofts was elected as its first kaiwhakahaere. Following Ngāi Tahu, Crofts was appointed to theNew Zealand Conservation Authority. He was a member of the Canterbury Water Management Committee, Lyttelton Port Company, the director of theCanterbury Museum, and was akaumātua forChristchurch City Council. He was appointed anOfficer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori in the2016 Birthday Honours.[3][4] He was nicknamed "Uncle Charlie".[5]
Crofts married Meri Te Aroha Wereta in 1962, and they had two children.[2] Crofts died on 26 February 2024, at the age of 80.[6]