Serious question I found I could not answer today!

**oldrider** · 18th August 2011, 23:11

A couple of handicapped men asked me today, "What did Sir Paul Reeves do that made him so famous?"

I thought about it for a while and found I did not really know the answer!

Student/university/ ordained Anglican church minister.
Appointed first Maori Governor General of New Zealand.

No idea what he did after that, presume he went back to the Anglican church ministry!

Can some of you more learned people out there answer the question and complete my education?

This is not a piss take, I really don't know anything about him, other than the above!

**far queue** · 18th August 2011, 23:22

Here you go young fella.

This one's a bit more wordy if you can be bothered reading it all.

**Berries** · 18th August 2011, 23:24

Didn't he have more hit singles than Dave Dobbyn?

**Mom** · 19th August 2011, 06:30

He was also a very down to earth man, a real gentleman. I met him a couple of times, he has a house up this way, and he took services at our local Anglican Church a few times.

When my eldest daughter was 10 she decided to do a project on Sir Paul Reeves and wrote to him to ask if she could interview him, the questions were written ones. He must have been such a busy man at that time, but he took the time to answer her questions, and add in other information as well.

The project was fantastic and took pride of place on our family honours wall for many years. I knew he was sick and had withdrawn from public life to spend time with his family, but it was a real shock to hear he had gone so quickly. A great loss.

**JimO** · 19th August 2011, 06:57

he rode a motorbike over a bridge arch in hamilton

**ynot slow** · 19th August 2011, 07:34

Was a true kiwi,managed to get through both cultures we had at the time,without turning into a "born again maori".

Dropped into my mums' place to pick up some work stuff,grabbed a coffee and watched an interview/docco on his life after the funeral,gave a brief insight to the guy and his family,was pretty impressive seeing his girls describe their father in the circumstances.

Never thought he had done so much work for the people he loved,and was truley loved and respected by the coastal taranaki maori,Okato especially.

**oneofsix** · 19th August 2011, 07:47

thanks far queue, I was in the same boat as the OP. I felt he had been a decent sensible bloke but weren't what made him extra special. Didn't remember him as being Governor General during "rogernomics" but agree with his assessment of it.

Originally Posted by ynot slow

Was a true kiwi,managed to get through both cultures we had at the time

Yes but more so as my impression was he went further as he reckonised there were more than just two cultures.

Originally Posted by Mom

He was also a very down to earth man, a real gentleman.

Even in his public role he gave that impression.

**oldrider** · 19th August 2011, 11:37

Thanks for the replies, I have read it all and Googled a whole lot more more besides!

I don't feel any further enlightened and am beginning to feel the cynic stirring within!

Barack Obama keeps springing to mind as I read about Sir Paul but Sir Paul never really seemed to offended anybody, in his whole life!

That is quite an achievement in it's self!

In his position Barack Obama will never be able to achieve that!

Well done Sir Paul. R.I.P.

**Taz** · 19th August 2011, 11:50

He died.

If it wasn't for that I still would never have heard of him.

**imdying** · 19th August 2011, 12:01

Originally Posted by Mom

family honours wall

Nice

**Mom** · 19th August 2011, 18:09

Originally Posted by imdying

Nice

I designed the house with an extra wide hallway down to the kids end of the house, 3 bedrooms and a lounge area, a toilet and bathroom off the hallway. Anything remarkable, or great, or special that the kids did was pinned up there. No pissing around with Blu Tack, drawing pins were the way to go. Sometimes the little one would pin up her pride and joy pictures

I would wait a week or so and take it down again

School awards, projects that got good marks, Golden Lions ( a positive award system at the local school, it all got pinned up there for people to enjoy.

The other side of the hallway was my kitch gallery. Anything remotely, revoltingly kitch I found went up there.

**wysper** · 19th August 2011, 18:13

Originally Posted by Mom

The other side of the hallway was my kitch gallery. Anything remotely, revoltingly kitch I found went up there.

It's a bit mean to hang Maha on the wall Mom

**Mom** · 19th August 2011, 18:20

Originally Posted by wysper

It's a bit mean to hang Maha on the wall Mom

ROFL! I never thought of him as kitch...

Hmmmmmm, might have to re-look at him, not sure how I could hang him though.

The other small problem is I dont live in that house anymore, be a bit challenging to get in there and display him in the hallway