Background
He was born in Waiwhetu, Wellington, New Zealand in 1887.
He was born in Waiwhetu, Wellington, New Zealand in 1887.
Of Māori descent, he identified with the Te Ati Awa iwi. As a young man, he was trained by the prophet Te Whiti at Parihaka, before returning to the Wellington region. He was active in the early New Zealand Labour Party and had close friendships with Peter Fraser and Walter Nash.
He was active in the campaign for the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Acting 1945.
Puketapu married Amiria Ake Ake, in Hawera about 1907, but she died in 1916. Puketapu married Pākehā Vera May Yeates (1904-1916 March 1991) on 15 March 1930, at Wellington.
They had many children, including Ihakara Puketapu. Puketapu died in Lower Hutt on 1 July 1971.