About Brian Poananga
Lived 1924 – 1995 (aged 70). Brian Poananga was a New Zealand diplomat and soldier.
Major General Brian Matauru Poananga, (2 December 1924 – 5 September 1995) was a New Zealand sportsman, military leader and diplomat. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Porou and Rangitāne iwi. He was born in Palmerston North, Manawatu, in 1924. He was educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School.
In the 1962 Queen's Birthday Honours, Poananga was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division). He was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours, and further promoted to Commander of the same Order in the 1978 New Year Honours. In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Brian Poananga's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Brian Poananga?
New Zealand military leader (1924–1995)
When was Brian Poananga born?
Brian Poananga was born on 2 December 1924 in Palmerston North.
When did Brian Poananga die?
Brian Poananga died on 5 September 1995 in Taupō.
What was Brian Poananga's occupation?
Brian Poananga was a diplomat and soldier.
What nationality was Brian Poananga?
Brian Poananga was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Brian Poananga. https://biography.guide/brian-poananga/
MLA: "Brian Poananga." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/brian-poananga/.
Chicago: "Brian Poananga." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/brian-poananga/.
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