Jock M. McEwen

Jock Malcolm McEwen (1915–2010) was a New Zealand public servant, writer and carver who contributed to Māori development. He led the carving by students at Rimutaka Prison of the Māori carved pou (posts) that stand in the foyer of the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington. He helped found Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt, and worked on the sixth edition of Herbert Williams' A Dictionary of the Maori Language, regarded for many years as the standard dictionary of the Māori language.

Early life and education McEwen was born in Feilding on the 17th of February 1915 and was Pākehā of Scottish Highlander descent. He was supported in his language acquisition by visits to Aorangi Marae where the elders there would correct him. These people included Mason Durie (Meihana Te Rama-Apakura) and his wife Kahurautete. He was on the Polynesian Society Council from the 1940s and the president for 21 years. As a writer and linguist he was part of revising the Standard Maori Dictionary, sixth edition.

Legacy and death When McEwen retired in 1975 he had a tokotoko (carved staff) presented to him by the Māori Queen.

After living in Silverstream, Upper Hutt for over 50 years McEwen died in Wellington on 10 May 2010. Before his burial he lay in state wearing the cloak of a kaumatua in Orongomai Marae.

Politician Matiu Rata said of McEwen: If every area had a Jock McEwen, what a great country New Zealand would be. (Matiu Rata)