Sir Archie John Te Atawhai Taiaroa (3 January 1937 â 21 September 2010) was a New Zealand MÃÂori leader who affiliated to the NgÃÂti Tà «wharetoa, Te ÃÂti Haunui-a-PÃÂpÃÂrangi, NgÃÂti Apa and NgÃÂti Maru iwi. He chaired the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board and Te Ohu Kaimoana, the latter for five years. He lived for a long time at Taumarunui, where he was a borough councillor and deputy mayor.
Taiaroa was born at Tawatà(Tawhata), on the Whanganui River, about 40 kilometres by road south-west of Taumarunui. He had an older brother, Raymond Te Rumana (Lofty) Taiaroa. He attended Tawata School, St Patrick's Convent School in Taumarunui, Hato Paora College near Feilding and the University of Canterbury. He married Martha Turner, of a leading NgÃÂti Tà «wharetoa family, in 1965 and they had a son, Te Hokowhitu-a-RÃÂkeipoho Taiaroa, known as RÃÂkeipoho Taiaroa.
He died of a stroke in Hamilton on 21 September 2010. He was buried at Poumaanu urupÃÂ (cemetery) at TawatÃÂ.
In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours, Taiaroa was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to MÃÂori. Following the reintroduction of titular honours by the New Zealand government, he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 Special Honours. In November 2024 Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui re-opened with a new wing dedicated to Taiaroa named Te PÃÂtaka o TÃÂ Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa. The naming of the new wing was to honour Taiaroa's legacy and commitment to collective action.