Maco Tevane

Maco Tevane, real name Marc Maamaatuaiahutapu (13 August 1937 – 21 August 2013) was a French Polynesian author, playwright, and politician who served as Minister of Culture in the government of Gaston Flosse in the 1990s. He was a defender of Polynesian culture and the Tahitian language and is considered the founding father of popular Tahitian theatre. He was the father of politician Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu[2] and TNTV director Mateata Maamaatuaiahutapu.[3]

Maco Tevane
Minister of Culture and the Environment
In office
18 May 1994 – 4 August 1994
PresidentGaston Flosse
Preceded byJustin Arapari (culture)
Pierre Dehors (environment)
Succeeded byPatrick Howell
Minister of Social Affairs, Employment, and Labour
In office
11 September 1991 – 18 May 1994
Preceded byJoël Buillard
Succeeded byRaymond Van Bastolaer
Personal details
Born13 August 1937
Papeete, French Polynesia
Died21 August 2013.[1]
Papeete, French Polynesia
Political partyHere Ai'a

Early life

After graduating from high school with a national diploma he worked as a surveyor for the land registry before working for the lands service.[4][5] After gaining a qualification in teaching Tahitian he worked as a court interpreter and then for the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française as a television host.[1]

In August 1972 he founded the Tahitian Academy.[6] In 1974 he was one of its first academic members. In 1979 he created the Artistic Conservatory of French Polynesia to promote traditional arts and culture.[7]

Political career

In October 1966 Tevane was elected as a municipal councillor in Papeete.[5] From 1972 to 1982 he worked as an advisor to the French Polynesian government.[4] He frequently represented French Polynesia at meetings of the South Pacific Commission.[8]

He stood unsuccessfully for the National Assembly in the 1978 French legislative election, losing to Gaston Flosse.[9] He ran again in the 1981 election, but gained only 3.9% of the vote.[10] Shortly before the 1982 French Polynesian legislative election he founded the Social Democrat party with Frantz Vanizette, but gained only 2.8% of the vote.[8]

In September 1991 he was appointed Minister of Social Affairs, Employment, and Labour in the government of Gaston Flosse. He later served as Minister of Culture and the Environment.[4] He resigned as a minister in August 1994 following a coalition realignment.[11]

Plays
  • 1972: Te pe'ape'a hau 'ore o Papa Penu e o Mama Roro (The incessant arguments of Papa Penu and Mama Roro)
  • 1974: Te huno'a mana'o 'ore hia ("The Unexpected Son-in-Law")

Honours

In 1983 he was made a Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite.[4] In 1989 he was made an officer.[4]

In June 2000 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Tahiti Nui.[12]

In November 2016 Taunoa College was renamed as Maco Tevane College in his honour.[13][14]

References
  1. eric Tang (21 August 2013). "Maco Tevane est mort" (in French). Polynesie1. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  2. "L'ordre national du mérite pour H. Maamaatuaiahutapu et M. de Chazeaux" (in French). Tahiti News. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016.
  3. "Mateata Maamaatuaiahutapu à la tête de TNTV : "Cela n'a pas été un long fleuve tranquille"" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  4. "Décès de Maco Tevane" (in French). Tahiti News. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015.
  5. "Marc MAAMAATUAIAHUTAPU dit Maco TEVANE" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  6. "La culture en deuil : Maco Tevane, 'ia maita'i i tō tere" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  7. "Artistic Conservatory of French Polynesia". 23 July 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  8. "Wrecks, safe returns in May 23 poll". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 53, no. 7. 1 July 1982. p. 22. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "LES ELECTEURS DU PACIFIQUE FRANCAIS SE SONT PRONONCES EN FAVEUR DE LA MAJORITE PRESIDENTIELLE". Le Courrier Australien (in French). 1 May 1978. p. 4. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Polynesia votes – yet again". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 52, no. 8. 1 August 1981. p. 19. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Two French Polynesian ministers resign". Canberra Times. 4 August 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "LISTE DES TITULAIRES". 21 July 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. "Le collège de Taunoa prend le nom de Maco Tevane" (in French). Mairie de Papeete. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  14. "Education : Quand le collège Taunoa devient le collège Maco Tevane" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
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