The Hon Dr Pita R Sharples, JP, CBE is a Māori academic and politician, who was a co-leader of the Māori Party from 2004 to 2013, and a Minister outside Cabinet from 2008 to 2014. He was first elected to the House of Representatives as a Māori Party Member of Parliament on 17 September 2005 for the Electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau and was re-elected in the 2008 and 2011 General Elections.