Freda was born in Palmerston North and was educated at Ngaio Primary School and Wellington Technical College. She graduated in 1955 with a Diploma in Fine Arts in Painting from the School of Fine Arts, Canterbury University College of New Zealand. She continued her studies at Auckland Teachers’ College Division A in 1956 and then taught at Hamilton Technical College, Kaitaia College and Aorere College. She taught in England for two years at primary and secondary schools. After returning to New Zealand and while raising her children Freda did further study at Massey University and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 1968. She was awarded a Massey post-graduate scholarship and started a M.Litt. She wrote poetry which remains unpublished and she conducted research into tribally owned land in which she had interests in.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Freda Kawharu in August 19, 1998.
Non-fiction
- "Expression of Taha Māori Through Art." Māori Educational Development Conference, Tuurangawaewae Marae, 23-25 March, 1984. Sponsored by NZ Māori Council. Nga Tumanako. Ed. Ranginui Walker. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Centre for Continuing Education, U of Auckland, 1984. 41-42.
- Kawharu writes a discourse on Māori art and describes its development from pre-European times through to the 1970s.
- "Oromahoe, Issues of Developing Multiply-owned Māori Land." Whenua, Managing Our Resources. Ed. M. Kawharu. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 2002. 34-47.
- "Heke Pokai, Hone Wiremu ?-1850." The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ed. W. H. Oliver. Vol. 1. 1769-1869. Wellington, N.Z.: Allen & Unwin; Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1990. 184-187. Updated as ‘Heke Pokai, Hone Wiremu ? - 1850’. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 April 2006. URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/
- "Ngapua, Hone Heke 1869-1909." The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Volume Two: 1870-1900. Wellington, N.Z.: Bridget Williams; The Department of Internal Affairs, 1993. Updated as ‘Ngapua, Hone Heke 1869 - 1909’. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 April 2006. URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/
Papers/Presentations
- "Expression of Taha Māori Through Art." Māori Educational Development Conference, Tuurangawaewae Marae, 23-25 March, 1984. Sponsored by NZ Māori Council. Nga Tumanako. Ed. Ranginui Walker. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Centre for Continuing Education, U of Auckland, 1984. 41-42.
- Kawharu writes a discourse on Māori art; he describes its development from pre-European times through to the 1970s.
Other
- "He Maimai Aroha." Mana: The Maori News Magazine for all New Zealanders 40 (2001): 8-10.
- Kawharu, Merata. "A Life Dedicated to the Care of Others." New Zealand Herald 18 Nov 2000: A27.