Piri Sciascia

Born at Porangahau on 6 November 1946, Sciascia was the son of Frank la Basse and Maymorn Sciascia.[1] He was of Māori and Italian descent,[2] and affiliated to Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Raukawa, and Rangitāne.[1] Sciascia was eduated at Te Aute College, and then studied at the University of Otago, completing a BSc in 1968 and Bachelor of Arts in 1971.[1] He later completed a BA(Hons) at Victoria University of Wellington in 1977, and a Diploma of Teaching at Palmerston North Teachers' College in 1981.[1]

In 1973, Sciascia married Gaylene Ann Wilson, and the couple went on to have five children.[1]

Sciascia was a lecturer at Palmerston North Teachers' College from 1975 until 1981, before serving as a director of the Council for Maori and South Pacific Arts from 1981 to 1989.[1] In 1989, he joined the Department of Conservation (DOC) as assistant director-general kaupapa Māori, serving in that role until 1991, when he became assistant director-general of DOC.[1]

In 2000, Sciascia was appointed assistant vice-chancellor (Māori) at Victoria University of Wellington, later becoming pro vice-chancellor (Māori) and then, in 2014, deputy vice-chancellor (Māori), in which role he served until 2016.[2]

Sciascia toured with the Maori Theatre Trust in the 1970s, and founded the Ngāti Kahungunu kapa haka group, Tamatea Ariki Nui, in 1977.[1][2] He was the latter group's leader, tutor and composer until 1991.[1]

He was a member of the organising committee for the international exhibition Te Maori, which toured the United States and New Zealand from 1984 to 1987, and also contributed to the exhibition's catalogue.[1] He also served on the committee of the Aotearoa Maori Festival of Arts, the Rūnanganui o Ngāti Kahungunu Arts Board, and as chair of the Māori Broadcast Funding Agency, Te Māngai Pāho.[1][3]

Sciascia (left) and Te Amohaere Morehu accompanying Barack Obama at a pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) at Government House, Auckland, in March 2018

After retiring from Victoria in 2016, Sciascia held the position of kaumātua to the governor-general, prime minister and Cabinet, giving advice on Māori protocol and language, and assisting in hosting visiting dignitaries.[2][3] He died on 18 January 2020.[2]

In 1990, Sciascia was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1] In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori arts.[4]

Sciascia received the Keeper of Traditions award at the 2008 Waiata Māori Music Awards,[2] and a Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka (Sir Kingi Ihaka Award) in 2016 in recognition of his lifetime contribution to Māori arts.[5]