Sir Alfred Thomas "Turi" Carroll (24 August 1890 – 11 November 1975) was a New Zealand

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

leader and local politician. Through his life Carroll held many positions of leadership, including membership on the Kahungunu Tribal Executive, chairing the Wairoa County Council and presidency of the

New Zealand Māori Council The New Zealand Māori Council () is a body that represents and consults the Māori people of New Zealand. As one of the oldest Māori representative groups, the council exerts pressure on New Zealand governments to protect Treaty of Waitangi ri ...

from 1962 to 67. Carroll was born in

Wairoa Wairoa is the largest town in the Wairoa District and the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mā ...

Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay () is a region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region is named for Hawke Bay, which was named in honour of Edward Hawke. The region's main centres are the cities of Napier and Hastings, while the more rural ...

, New Zealand on 24 August 1890, to Thomas Carroll and his wife Mako Kaimoana. He was a member of the

Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi (tribe) located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke's Bay and Wairārapa regions. The Kahungunu iwi also comprises 86 hapū (sub-tribes ...

tribe, and the family farm, the Huramua station outside

, was inherited through his paternal grandmother, Tapuke, who was of high rank within the tribe. Turi's uncle, James Carroll, seeing potential in him and seeking an heir to his own endeavours, decided that Turi should be sent away for education. He attended Wanganui Collegiate for a year in 1905, before moving to

Te Aute College Te Aute College (Māori language, Māori: Te Kura o Te Aute) is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams (missionary), Samuel Williams, an Anglicanism, Anglican missionary, and ...

. He studied at

Lincoln Agricultural College Lincoln University (Māori: ''Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki'') is a public university in New Zealand that was formed in 1990 when Lincoln College, Canterbury was made independent of the University of Canterbury. Founded in 1878, it is the oldest ag ...

from 1909, graduated in 1911, and returned to manage the family farm. Carroll served in the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

from 1917 to 1919. Carroll was a Rotarian and prominent in the Anglican Church, and was chairman of the Wairoa County Council. Carroll was Maori vice-president of the

National Party National Party or Nationalist Party may refer to: Active parties * National Party of Australia, commonly known as ''The Nationals'' * Bangladesh: ** Bangladesh Nationalist Party ** Jatiya Party (Ershad) a.k.a. ''National Party (Ershad)'' * Californ ...

between 1948 and 1952, and unsuccessfully contested the

Eastern Maori Eastern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, ...

electorate for National in the and elections and the

Southern Maori Southern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Western Maori and Eastern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updat ...

electorate for National in the election. In the 1952 Queen's Birthday Honours, Carroll was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, for services to the Māori race. In 1953, he was awarded the

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal () is a commemorative medal instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. Award This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir from the Queen to members of the Royal Family ...

. In the 1962 Queen's Birthday Honours, Carroll was promoted to

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, for services to the Māori people. The same month, June 1962, he was elected president of the New Zealand Māori Council of Tribal Executives (the council would become the New Zealand Māori Council the next year). Carroll died on 11 November 1975 at Huramua station, near

. He was laid in state at the Taihoa marae before a funeral service at the Tākitimu marae. The procession of mourners following Carroll's hearse to his burial at the family cemetery was a mile long.

References

1890 births 1975 deaths Māori politicians 20th-century New Zealand farmers Ngāti Kahungunu people People from Wairoa New Zealand military personnel of World War I New Zealand National Party politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 1951 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1949 New Zealand general election Local politicians in New Zealand People educated at Te Aute College Lincoln University (New Zealand) alumni Unsuccessful candidates in the 1954 New Zealand general election New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire {{NewZealand-politician-stub