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Piri Sciascia

1946 – 2020

New Zealand Māori leader

Artist Kaumātua
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About Piri Sciascia

Lived 1946 – 2020 (aged 73). Piri Sciascia was a New Zealand artist and kaumātua.

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,

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Victoria University of Wellington
Employers
Massey University
Awards
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Also known as
Piri John Ngarangikaunuhia Sciascia, Prof Piri Sciascia

Family & relationships

Spouse
Gaylene Sciascia

People in Piri Sciascia's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Piri Sciascia's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Piri Sciascia?

New Zealand Māori leader

When was Piri Sciascia born?

Piri Sciascia was born on 6 November 1946 in Pōrangahau.

When did Piri Sciascia die?

Piri Sciascia died on 18 January 2020.

What was Piri Sciascia's occupation?

Piri Sciascia was an artist and kaumātua.

What nationality was Piri Sciascia?

Piri Sciascia was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Piri Sciascia

· Wikidata: Q83098371

· DBpedia: Piri Sciascia

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Piri Sciascia. https://biography.guide/piri-sciascia/

MLA: "Piri Sciascia." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/piri-sciascia/.

Chicago: "Piri Sciascia." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/piri-sciascia/.

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