Today in 1916: The passionate Advocate of Mario rights.

Today in 1916: The passionate Advocate of Mario rights.

 During his tenure, he championed The Reo Rangatira, education, and culture, encouraging a distinct identity for Pākehā (to break ties with "Mother England") and the integration of ngā tāonga tuku iho and whakapapa Māori into various aspects of society. 

Having studied at Victoria University (graduating in science), and the University of Hawaii, Pīhopa Manu was the first president of the Association of Māori University Graduates. 

As a priest he served around the motu, including a stint in Hawaii, and was a chaplain to the New Zealand troops in the Middle East and Italy in WWII. 

While Pīhopa Manu was accorded mana and respect by te iwi Māori and NZ overall with the office of Te Pīhopa o Aotearoa considered a national one, like his father and Pīhopa Panapa before him, Pīhopa Manu was appointed by the Pākehā Bishops in the North Island as a Suffragan (assistant) to the Bishop of Waiapu and could only move through jurisdictions and minister to his people with the permission of other Pākehā Bishops.

Describing himself as a "man of war without guns", Pīhopa Manu, alongside te iwi Māori, was adamant that he would be the last "Suffering" Bishop. 

With the establishment of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa in 1978, whereby Māori would finally have forums and a voice at the rohenga and national levels and could, for the first time, elect their own Bishop, Pīhopa Manu saw his work as Pīhopa as being complete.

Pīhopa Manu also played a crucial role in resolving conflicts related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, serving on the Waitangi Tribunal and tirelessly working toward reconciliation.

 Pīhopa Manu was appointed a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1981, and in 1989 was the eleventh appointee to the Order of New Zealand. 

Despite the heights he attained in the Hāhi and his many honours, achievements, and accolades, he considered his work as a prison chaplain, before he became Pīhopa, counseling young Māori and Polynesian offenders at Waikeria to be his most valuable contributions.