KEY POINTS:
Paratene (Pat) Ngata, one of the East Coast's most influential health advocates, has been awarded the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners' highest honour for his work with Maori.
Whanau, friends, colleagues and medical students joined him this week in a ceremony at his marae at Tokomaru Bay, north of Gisborne, where he was bestowed with a distinguished fellowship.
Among those delivering the citation were college president Jonathan Fox, the college's censor-in-chief Ralph Wiles and Dr Ngata's East Coast colleague Dr David Tipene-Leach.
Dr Ngata, who has lung cancer, was chosen to receive the honour because he has been "instrumental in changing the face of Maori healthcare", Dr Fox said. He had encouraged, nurtured and mentored Maori GPs.
He had also been a powerful support for the college in helping with cultural competence and encouraging the growth of the Maori faculty.
In 1984 he played a leading role in the Hui Whakaoranga, described by a former director-general of health as the most important Maori health initiative since the days of his great-grand-uncle Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Peter Buck.
- NZPA
