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John Grace

1905 – 1985

Ngati Tuwharetoa; interpreter, public servant, community leader, high commissioner

Interpreter
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About John Grace

Lived 1905 – 1985 (aged 79–80). John Grace was a New Zealand interpreter.

Sir John Te Herekiekie Grace (28 July 1905 – 11 August 1985) was a New Zealand interpreter, public servant, community leader and New Zealand's first High Commissioner to Fiji. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa . He was born in Whanganui, New Zealand on 28 July 1905.

In 1953, Grace was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1954 New Zealand Royal Visit Honours. In the 1968 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Māori people and in public affairs. Grace's book, Tuwharetoa: A history of the Maori people of the Taupo District, published in 1959, was selected as one of the 180 most significant works of Māori-authored non-fiction.

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
1985
Occupation
Interpreter
Nationality
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
Sir John Te Herekiekie Grace, John Te Herekiekie Grace, Sir John Grace, John Te H. Grace

People in John Grace's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Grace's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Grace?

Ngati Tuwharetoa; interpreter, public servant, community leader, high commissioner

When was John Grace born?

John Grace was born on 28 July 1905 in Whanganui.

When did John Grace die?

John Grace died in 1985.

What was John Grace's occupation?

John Grace was an interpreter.

What nationality was John Grace?

John Grace was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Grace

· Wikidata: Q6260410

· DBpedia: John Grace (Māori leader)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Grace. https://biography.guide/john-grace-interpreter/

MLA: "John Grace." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-grace-interpreter/.

Chicago: "John Grace." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-grace-interpreter/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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