Tanara Whairiri Kitawhiti "Whai" Ngata (c. 1942 – 3 April 2016) was a MÃÂori broadcaster, journalist, and lexicographer.
Ngata worked for Radio New Zealand from 1975 to 1983, before moving to Television New Zealand. He led the MÃÂori department at TVNZ until his retirement in 2008. He helped to write the EnglishâÂÂMÃÂori dictionary credited to his father Hà Âri Mahue Ngata, the grandson of Sir ÃÂpirana Ngata.
In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ngata was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to MÃÂori broadcasting and television.
Ngata died in Auckland overnight on 2/3 April 2016. He is survived by his mother Mihihara Ngata (née Ngarimu), wife Geraldine and his three sons and their families.