James Carroll (pictured standing second from the right- Richard Seddon is seated to the left with his hand on the paper) was born at Wairoa, one of eight children of Joseph Carroll, born in Sydney of Irish descent, and Tapuke, a Māori woman of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe. He was educated both at Whare Wananga (traditional Māori college) and the Wairoa native school but left early to be a farm worker. In 1870, while no more than thirteen, he was part of the Māori force pursuing Te Kooti in the Urewera, and his bravery was mentioned in dispatches. Beginning his career as an interpreter and land agent, Carroll was elected to the Eastern Maori seat in 1887. He was Colonial Secretary (equivalent to Minister of Internal Affairs) from 1895. He was the first Māori to hold the cabinet position Native Affairs, which he held between 1899 and 1912. He was held in high regard within the Liberal Party and was acting prime minister in 1909 and 1911.
On 4 July 1881 Carroll married Heni Materoa (pictured below), which is where our family link comes from, also known as Te Huinga (1852/56?–1930) she was born at Makauri, a few miles north of Turanga (Gisborne). Her father was Mikaera Turangi of the Rongowhakaata (which is our familys hapu)tribe. Her mother was Riperata Kahutia, an influential leader of Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1918. Heni Materoa-Carroll died in November 1930, Sir James died 8 years prior. Sad thing is they never had any kids. Heni was my Great Great Great (give or take one Great) Aunty.
