Ken Mair

{{Short description|New Zealand politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}

File:Sir Jerry Mateparae greeted with a hongi by Ken Mair.jpg with a hongi]]

Kenehi Mair is a New Zealand Māori rights activist and politician.

At the 1989 local-body elections he stood for Mayor of Porirua, but was defeated by incumbent John Burke by over 4,000 votes. Mair said he was surprised by how many votes he received and he was "only testing the water" in standing.{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Olsen |title=Mayor Burke pledges a team approach |work=The Evening Post |date=16 October 1989 |page=4 }}

He has unsuccessfully contested several general elections for Mana Māori. He was ranked eighth on their party list in {{NZ election link year|1996}},{{cite web|title=Part III – Party Lists of unsuccessful Registered Parties |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.4%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Unsuccessful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=14 June 2013 |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208054417/http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.4%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Unsuccessful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |archivedate= 8 February 2013 }} seventh in {{NZ election link year|1999}}, and second in {{NZ election link year|2002}}.

Mair has acted as a spokesperson for Māori iwi in the area around the Whanganui River,{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4523898a8153.html |title=Laws digs in over putting 'h' in Wanganui |date=12 May 2008 |work=The Dominion Post |accessdate=12 October 2011}} and was one of the organisers of the 1995 occupation of Moutoa Gardens in Whanganui, in protest at grievances under the Treaty of Waitangi.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=888594 |title=Anger still boiling beneath new amity |date=6 February 2002 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=12 October 2011}}