Piri Sciascia

Piri John Ngarangikaunuhia Sciascia (6 November 1946 – 18 January 2020) was a New Zealand Māori leader, kapa haka exponent, and university administrator. From 2016 until his death, he served as kaumātua and advisor to the governor-general and government of New Zealand.

Early life and family Born at Pōrangahau on 6 November 1946, Sciascia was the son of Frank la Basse and Maymorn Sciascia. He was of Māori and Italian descent,

Academic and public service career Sciascia was a lecturer at Palmerston North Teachers' College from 1975 until 1981, before serving as a director of the Council for Maori and South Pacific Arts from 1981 to 1989. He also served on the committee of the Aotearoa Maori Festival of Arts, the Rūnanganui o Ngāti Kahungunu Arts Board, and as chair of the Māori Broadcast Funding Agency, Te Māngai Pāho. He died on 18 January 2020.

Honours and awards In 1990, Sciascia was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Sciascia received the Keeper of Traditions award at the 2008 Waiata Māori Music Awards,