Ben Couch

Manuera Benjamin Riwai Couch QSO JP (27 June 1925 – 3 June 1996) was a New Zealand politician and rugby union player. He was a team-member of the All Blacks and the New Zealand Māori rugby union team in the 1940s.

The Honourable Ben Couch QSO JP
34th Minister of Māori Affairs
In office 13 December 1978 – 26 July 1984
Preceded by	Duncan MacIntyre
Succeeded by	Koro Wētere
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wairarapa
In office 1975–1984
Preceded by	Jack Williams
Succeeded by	Reg Boorman
Personal details
Born	Manuera Benjamin Riwai Couch (1925-06-27)27 June 1925 Rapaki, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
Died	3 June 1996(1996-06-03) (aged 70) Masterton, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse(s)	Bessie Couch
Children	7
Rugby career
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)
School	Christchurch Technical School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth All Black No. 469 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1945–54 Wairarapa 55 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1947–49 1948–50 New Zealand New Zealand Māori 3 20 (0)

Early life

Couch was born in 1925 in Christchurch and he grew up on Banks Peninsula. Couch's parents were Methodists and he was largely raised by his grandmother who belonged to the Salvation Army. He attended Christchurch Technical School. He married Bessie Carter, his childhood sweetheart who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Couch was in the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the end of World War II but was never sent into battle. At the age of 24 Couch joined the LDS Church. He moved to the Wairarapa in the mid-1940s.[1]

Rugby union

A first five-eighth, Couch represented Wairarapa at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1947 to 1949. He played seven matches for the All Blacks including three internationals.[1] Of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent,[2] he also played 20 matches for New Zealand Māori between 1948 and 1950.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1975–1978	38th	Wairarapa		National
1978–1981	39th	Wairarapa		National
1981–1984	40th	Wairarapa		National

In the 1975 general election, he was elected to Parliament as the National Party member of parliament for the Wairarapa electorate,[3] thus becoming (with Rex Austin) only the second and third Māori (after Sir James Carroll) to win a general electorate (as opposed to a Māori electorate).[4]

He served as Minister of Māori Affairs and Minister of Police in the third National Government, but lost his seat in 1984 to Labour's Reg Boorman.[3] While Minister of Police, he called for the birch to be introduced for violent offenders and allowed the police to use longer batons. He created some controversy by wearing a Springbok rugby team blazer at the time of their 1981 tour of New Zealand as well as attending a public meeting organised by the League of Rights. This was despite his having been denied entry to South Africa as part of the All Blacks rugby team in the 1940s because of his race.

In 1977, Couch was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[5] In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, Couch was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[6]

Later life and death

In the 1990s, Couch was involved in various Māori organisations. He died in 1996 in Masterton.[1]

References

1. Knight, Lindsay. "Ben Couch". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
2. Snow, S.G. "Couch, Manuera Benjamin Riwai". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
3. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 191. OCLC 154283103.
4. "Ngā māngai — Māori representation". Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
5. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 108. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
6. "No. 52564". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 31.

Political offices
Preceded by Peter Wilkinson	Postmaster-General 1978–1980	Succeeded by Warren Cooper
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Jack Williams	Member of Parliament for Wairarapa 1975–1984	Succeeded by Reg Boorman