Background
Sharples was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke"s Bay. His mother Ruiha was of Ngāti Kahungunu, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton, United Kingdom.
Sharples was born in Waipawa, a town in Hawke"s Bay. His mother Ruiha was of Ngāti Kahungunu, and his father Paul was a shearer and a second generation New Zealander whose family came from Bolton, United Kingdom.
He then attended the University of Auckland, studying education.
He stepped down as co-leader role of the Maori Party in July 2013. He received his early education at Waipukurau District High School, but then became a boarder at Te Aute College. His four years there culminated in him becoming head boy, and he credits this time as a turning point of his life.
After graduating, he remained at the University as an instructor, working at the Faculty of Education.
He subsequently gained an Master of Arts (1st class) in Anthropology, and later a Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology and Linguistics – both also from the University of Auckland. After the foreshore and seabed controversy in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia a former minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue.
Turia and Sharples organised a new party based around Turia"s Te Tai Hauāuru seat which was launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party with Sharples as co-leader. In the 2008 general election Sharples was re-elected with a majority of more than 7000.
Sharples was appointed as, although like other support party members he remained outside Cabinet.
Sharples was returned to parliament in the 2011 general election, and retained the Māori Affairs portfolio. He resigned as co-leader of the Māori Party in July 2013, and retired from Parliament at the 2014 election.
In addition to his academic work, Sharples has long advocated a separate Māori political party. The National Party won more seats overall and formed a minority government with support from the Māori Party, ACT New Zealand and United Future.
He was the member of Parliament for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate in Auckland from 2005 to 2014.