Kenneth Gartner was born in Taumarunui and grew up near Ohakune. He was educated at Ohakune Primary School, Ohakune District High School and Ruapehu College. He attended Auckland University and Victoria University and graduated with a B.A. in 1988, B.A. (Hons) in 1989, and an M.A. in Māori Studies in 1991. Gartner worked for three years in the State Advances Department before entering Wellington Teachers’ College. He has been a teacher at Haumoana, Hastings. In 1993 he was awarded an Internal Affairs Māori History Fellowship and is currently writing a PhD. He writes non-fiction work.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence with Kenneth Gartner, Dec. 1997, 20 July 1998, and 13 May 2004.
- Te Ao Hou 49 (1964): 53.
Non-fiction
- "A Foundation For The Future?" Te Ao Hou 49 (1964): 50-51,53.
- Gartner presents a sober view of Māori education statistics in the 1960s and examines the role of the Māori Education Foundation in improving Māori education. He argues that the absence of positive discrimination toward the Māori in the past has "partly led to the stagnation of the Māori race, not only academically, but also economically, socially and culturally". He outlines various explanations for Māori underachievement in the education arena.
- "What Can Be Done About Prejudice?" Te Ao Hou 52 (1965): 13-15.
- In this study of discrimination in New Zealand, Gartner examines various forms of prejudice under the headings of race and colour, economic factors and political reasons. He notes that prejudices can be based on fear, subconscious feelings of jealousy and envy, ignorance and "lack of personal contact between the prejudiced and prejudged". Gartner advocates the compulsory study of race relations at Teachers’ Training Colleges because teachers have such a pivotal role in fostering good race relations amongst New Zealand children.
- "Te Rangitahau ?-1900." The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Vol. 2: 1870-1900. Wellington, N.Z.: Bridget Williams Books; Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1993. 522-523.
- A biographical account of Ngāti Hineuru and Ngāti Tuwharetoa warrior and leader, Te Rangitahau, who fought alongside Te Kooti in the late 1860s and eventually parted company from Te Kooti during his Taupo campaigns.
- "Te Heuheu Tukino V, Tureiti 1865/66?-1921." The Dictionary of the New Zealand Biography. Vol. 3. 1901-1920. Auckland; Wellington, N.Z.: Auckland UP; Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1996. 507-509.
- Gartner writes a biography of Ngāti Tuwharetoa leader and politician Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V, noting his role advocating a separate Māori parliament in the Kotahitanga movement and his work as a native assessor in the Resident Magistrate’s Court in Tauranga and in the Validation Court.
Theses
- "Te Kooti Rikirangi Te Turuki: His Travels Etc Through Tuwharetoa Lands June-October 1869." M. A. Diss. Victoria U, 1991.