Willie Jackson

Birth Name: William Wakatere Jackson

Place of Birth: Porirua, North Island, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 1961

Ethnicity:
*father – English, Māori, one eighth Scottish
*mother – Māori and one quarter English

Willie Jackson is a New Zealand politician, unionist, broadcaster, radio and television host, and Urban Māori chief executive and leader. He has been Leader of Mana Motuhake, from 2 June, 2001 to 4 December, 2003, Minister of Employment, from 26 October, 2017 to 6 November, 2020, Minister for Māori Development, from 6 November, 2020 to 27 November, 2023, and Minister of Broadcasting and Media, from 14 June, 2022 to 27 November, 2023; as well as, a Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour Party list, since 23 September, 2017, and, previously, for Alliance party list, from 27 November, 1999 to 27 July, 2002. He was a member of the Alliance (Mana Māori Motuhake) Party, before assuming office for the Labour Party.

Willie is the son of Dame June Jackson (born June Te Muranga Batley) and Robert “Bob” Jackson. His mother was a community worker and public servant, who was the longest-serving member of the Parole Board in New Zealand. His grandfather was New Zealand rugby union player Everard Jackson, who played for East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington, and the New Zealand national team and the New Zealand Māori team. His uncles were Māori activist, trade unionist, and leader Syd Jackson and lawyer Moana Jackson.

Willie is affiliated with Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Porou. His father spoke te reo Māori. Willie learned the language as an adult. He was raised in Porirua and then Māngere. Willie is married to lecturer and school principal Tania Rangiheuea. He has a son, journalist Hikurangi Jackson, with his former wife, singer and presenter Moana Maniapoto; and two children with Tania.

Willie’s paternal grandfather was Everard Stanley Jackson (the son of Frederick (Fred) Stanley Jackson and Horowai Henderson). Everard was born in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Fred Jackson was a British-born rugby player, who played, union, for Camborne, Plymouth, and Leicester, and league, for North Shore Albions (ARL); and played for the Anglo-Welsh British Lions, Cornwall, Auckland, and the national New Zealand rugby team. Fred was the son of George Brindley Jackson, who was born in Manchester, Lancashire, and Ada Millington, who was born in West London. Willie’s great-grandmother Horowai was the daughter of Everard Hannon/Hannam Henderson, who was born in Worth, Eastry, Kent, England, and of Kamaea/Ngarangikamaea Ngatoko, who was Māori, of Ngāti Porou.

Willie’s paternal grandmother was Janey Cunningham (the daughter of Thomas Pura Cunningham and Te Paea Atiria Rarere, of Ngāti Kahungunu). Pura was the son of Thomas Cunningham, who was Scottish, and of Maraea Lewis, who herself was the daughter of John Jack Lewis, from Cumberland, England, and of Raiha Putanui, who was Māori.

Willie’s maternal grandfather was Ngahiwi Barney Batley (the son of Ernest (Riu) Batley and Rangirere Te Maemae Tekapo, of Ngāti Maniapoto). Riu was a farmer from Moawhango, and was the son of English parents, Robert Thompson Batley, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Emily Snelling, from Portsmouth, Hampshire. Rangirere was the daughter of Te Kapo Raniera and Mamaeroa Rahipera Taniora.

Willie’s maternal grandmother was Huinga Eileen Hakaraia (the daughter of Mika Hakaraia and Te Haumihi Pairama). Huinga was born in Piopio, Waitomo, Waikato, New Zealand, to Māori parents, of Ngāti Maniapoto.

Sources: Genealogy of Willie Jackson – https://www.geni.com

Story about Willie’s maternal great-grandfather, Ernest (Riu) Batley – https://collection.pukeariki.com