Editing Ron Mark (section)

==Early life and family==
Mark was born in [[Masterton]] on 29 January 1954, the son of Apiti Stanley Maaka and Te Aroha Maaka (née Grace).<ref name="Whos who">{{cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |editor-link=Alister Taylor |title=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |journal=New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa |year=2001 |publisher=Alister Taylor Publishers |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |pages=577–578}}</ref> He was fostered with six [[Pākehā]] foster families in Pahiatua, saying "I wouldn’t have survived without them".<ref>*{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123132000/election-2020-ron-mark-one-of-parliaments-colourful-characters-bows-out-after-six-terms |title= Ron Mark one of parliament's colourful characters bows out after six terms |publisher=Stuff/Fairfax |date=20 October 2020}}</ref> He was educated at [[Tararua College]] from 1968 to 1970. Mark's first wife was Gail (née Berry) Mark, and the couple had four children.<ref name="Whos who"/> On 12 February 2012, Mark told ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' that his partner of seven years, Christine Tracey, had made a [[leap year]] proposal.<ref name="Shuttleworth">{{Cite news |last=Shuttleworth |first=Kate |date=12 February 2012 |title=Leap year proposal for mayor |work=The New Zealand Herald |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leap-year-proposal-for-mayor/SLMQVE4QQXIS4HSGXYQDMWCXXE/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035151/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leap-year-proposal-for-mayor/SLMQVE4QQXIS4HSGXYQDMWCXXE/ |archive-date=16 August 2023}}</ref> [[Marama Fox]], formerly a [[Māori Party]] MP, is a cousin of Mark.<ref>{{cite web |title=Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First Reading – New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansD_20160302_00000016/papawai-and-kaikokirikiri-trusts-amendment-bill-first |website=www.parliament.nz |access-date=10 September 2021 |language=en |quote=Although looking at some of my cousins, cousin Marama, we seem to share the same affliction—height disadvantage and not being able to see.}}</ref>