Dame Whina Cooper: Story In photos
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
A photographic journey of Dame Whina Cooper
Dame Whina Cooper, Whina Cooper, 1875 land march, hikoi, protest, Maori land protest, Maori leaders, women, New Zealanders
"Woman of mana, teacher, storekeeper, community leader"
The description above was written by Michael King in Te Ara: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Dame Whina Cooper, of Te Rarawa descent, was born in 1895 in northern Hokianga. She was a land activist, noted Māori leader and respected kuia (elder).
Dame Whina Cooper (1895-1994) - Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation)
National Library of New Zealand
National inspiration: Whina and mokopuna setting off on hikoi from Te Hapua (in the Far North) to Parliament (1975)
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1. Early years: 1895 -
Te Ara: "Dame Whina Cooper was born Hōhepine (Josephine) Te Wake at Te Karaka in northern Hokianga on 9 December 1895. Her father was Heremia Te Wake, a leader of Ngāti Manawa and Te Kaitutae hapu of Te Rarawa and the son of an American whaler. Her mother, Kare Pauro Kawatihi, was of Te Rarawa and Taranaki descent. Whina was the first child of her father’s second marriage. Another daughter, Heretute, was born in 1897, and there were four half-brothers and three half-sisters from Heremia’s first family."
Whina Cooper was born Hōhepine (Josephine) Te Wake 9 December 1895
Alexander Turnbull Library
Whina's parents were Heremia Te Wake & Kare Pauro Kawatihi
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Whina's father was a devout Catholic
National Library of New Zealand
1902: Whina first attended Whakarapa Native School aged about 7 years
MTG Hawke's Bay
From 1907, Whina attended St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College in Napier with sponsorship from Sir James Carroll
Auckland Libraries
1911: Whina returned to Whakarapa (renamed Panguru in 1923) to live with her parents & work at the co-operative store
Auckland Libraries
1911: Whina's father wanted her to marry Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V, leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Alexander Turnbull Library
1913-1914: Trainee teacher at Pawarenga Native School (southern Whāngāpē Harbour)
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
c1914: Northern Māori MP Peter Buck helped campaign by Whina & her father to stop farmer draining Whakarapa mudflats
Auckland Libraries
Buck's successor, Taurekareka (Tau) Henare (1914-38), also intervened until farmer's lease was withdrawn by Marine Dept
Alexander Turnbull Library
1915-1916: Whina became the housekeeper at Catholic presbytery in Rawene built by Father Charles Kreymborg
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
2. Marriage & Family life: 1916 -
Later in 1916, Whina met a surveyor working for the Native Land Court - Richard Gilbert
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
10 May 1917: Whina & Richard Gilbert were married in Rawene by Father Kreymborg
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
1918: After death of her mother (June 1917) & father (Nov 1918), Whina evicted from parents' home by her step-brothers
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1919-1920: Whina worked at local kauri gumfields & Gilbert as a timber worker at Tapuwae during week
Alexander Turnbull Library
1923: Whina called a public meeting that resulted in the name Whakarapa being changed to Panguru
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
3. Business success from 1920s onwards
1920: Purchased family house & farm from Whina's brothers & the village store
Auckland Libraries
They built a new shop & storeroom, added a post office, and opened branches at Waihou & Mitimiti
Alexander Turnbull Library
Then they purchased a second farm at Tautehere & replaced their dairy herds
Auckland Libraries
Whina also had a leading role in church & community activities
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Whina opened her own community centre called the Parish Hall next to the shop & built a clinic alongside the store
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Whina's sporting interests: playing hockey, netball, table tennis, fishing, shooting, & coaching rugby & basketball
Auckland Libraries
4. Māori Land development schemes: 1930s
June 1932: Whina attended Rotorua Land Conference at the invite of Native Minister Sir Āpirana Ngata
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Aug 1932: Sir Āpirana spoke at a public meeting at Whina's Parish Hall
Alexander Turnbull Library
1930s: Whina & Āpirana Ngata set up 11 Māori land development schemes in Hokianga district
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Whina also accompanied Bill Cooper (interpreter & senior land officer appointed by Ngata) throughout Northland
Auckland Libraries
Whina began breeding pigs, obtaining a sow and boar from Princess Te Puea
Alexander Turnbull Library
1933: Āpirana Ngata, Whina (front, left) & PM George Forbes, Māori leaders & Hokianga County Council staff visited area
Alexander Turnbull Library
5. Second marriAge & Regional activities: 1935 -
March 1935: Whina's husband Richard Gilbert died aged 43 years due to ill-health
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Afterwards, Whina moved near Whangarei
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
6 Feb 1940: Whina organised catering for the opening of the meeting house Te Whare Rūnanga at Waitangi
Alexander Turnbull Library
Bill Cooper's involvement with the building of the Otiria meeting houses acknowledged in Te Ao Hou
Alexander Turnbull Library
21 Feb 1941: Whina married Bill Cooper
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1942: They returned to Panguru & Whina helped with fund-raising for the Māori War Effort Organisation
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Feb 1946: Whina welcomed home members of Māori Battalion at Te Kotahitanga marae at Kaikohe
Alexander Turnbull Library
In late 1940s, they bought the 124-acre farm Tautoro
Auckland Libraries
1946-1952: Whina was secretary & trustee of the Panguru Tribal Executive Committee
Alexander Turnbull Library
April 1947: Whina was elected president of North Hokianga Rugby Union
Alexander Turnbull Library
Whina and Bill arranged the renovation of Te Porowini meeting house at Taumarere
Alexander Turnbull Library
The Coopers campaigned for a district high school & Whina donated six acres of flat land at Panguru
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
After her second husband Bill Cooper died of heart attack on 4 Aug 1949, Whina moved to Grey Lynn, Auckland
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
6. National profile: 1952 -
Te Ao Hou (Sept 1955): " Mrs Cooper is a tremendous personality with few, if any, inhibitions and an “afraid of no one” complex. Of the many qualities which have brought her to the top the most conspicuous are those that single her out as a fighter—a fiery, hard hitting one too. She will not hesitate to demand when she judges that to be the most effective tactic, no matter how high or mighty be the person of whom she is demanding. She will relentlessly pursue her case till she gets satisfaction—there is no retreat. But she knows too that there are times when silence and meekness are golden. Her dynamic personality has been a wonderful asset, particularly in recent years when she has been one of the foremost in establishing and guiding the Maori Women's Welfare League."
1951: Whina established Māori Women’s Welfare League – Te Rōpū Wahine Māori Toko i te Ora – & was elected President
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
After being elected President: "According to Dame Whina, she later returned to her home in Grey Lynn and knelt before a statue of the Virgin in her sitting room, chanting: "Please, e Maria, mau au e ako ki te korero. Kua oti au te poti e nga wahine o te motu, mau au e awhina" ("Please, Mary, tell me what to say. The women of the nation have made me leader, please help me ... ") [Quoted in NZ Herald, 28 Sept 2001: "Maori women's long road to freedom"]
1952: League Conference
Alexander Turnbull Library
One of the League's first initiatives was a survey of Māori housing in Auckland in July 1952
Alexander Turnbull Library
1953: League Conference
Alexander Turnbull Library
As President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, Whina "established especially close relationships with National’s minister of Maori affairs, Ernest Corbett, and the leader of the opposition and Labour spokesman on Maori affairs, Walter Nash". (Source: Te Ara)
1953: Whina Cooper MBE Civil Division for services to the Māori
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
By mid-1950s, Whina involved with establishing over 300 branches, 88 district councils & 4000 members
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1950s: Whina was also President of Panguru Branch of Federated Farmers
Alexander Turnbull Library
1957: Retired as Māori Women's League President
Alexander Turnbull Library
1960s: At Māori Community Centre, Newmarket
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1962: Whina & W. Hotere led the committee to celebrate Rev. Henare Arekatera Tate of Panguru ordained as 2d Māori priest
Alexander Turnbull Library
1963: Attending Māori Women's Welfare League hui, Rotorua
Alexander Turnbull Library
1963: Whina lost election to Matiu Rata for Northern Māori electorate
Alexander Turnbull Library
1966: Auckland Catholic Māori Centre Te Unga Waka opened after two years of fundraising - concerts, raffles etc
Auckland Libraries
1968: Whina organised a Waitangi Day pageant at Carlaw Park on the significance of the Treaty
Alexander Turnbull Library
Women from Te Unga Waka joined others at a Māori Women's Conference held in Wellington in 1974
Alexander Turnbull Library
Prime Minister Robert Muldoon became a great friend of Dame Whina
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1974: Whina receiving CBE for services to Māori welfare and culture
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
7. Hikoi / Land march: "Not one more acre of Māori land": 1975
1975: Te Rōpū o te Matakite asked Whina to lead them in a protest. Their slogan was "Not one more acre of Māori land"
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1975: Te Rōpū o te Matakite (‘Those with Foresight’) was launched at a hui convened by Whina at Māngere Marae
NZ On Screen
June 1975: Whina photographed by Robin Morrison
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Booklet issued by Te Rōpū o te Matakite explaining "Why we march"
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Route for the Land March
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Itinerary for Land March planned by Te Rōpū o te Matakite
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Whina's co-organisers included Witi McMath & Tama Poata
Alexander Turnbull Library
Discussions held between the Police and land march organisers on safety issues
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
On 14 Sept 1975, Whina & 50 marchers left Te Hāpua in the Far North
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
On 23 Sept 1975, Whina & the marchers crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge
Alexander Turnbull Library
At instructions of Whina there were no placards or banners, just a white flag on a carved pouwhenua or land marker pole
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Māori Land March along Victoria Street in Hamilton
Alexander Turnbull Library
Whina Cooper addressing Māori Land March at Hamilton
Alexander Turnbull Library
1 Oct 1975: Marchers gathered outside Tauakira meeting-house at Otoko Marae, north-east of Whanganui
Alexander Turnbull Library
11 Oct 1975: Whina speaking on Takapuwahia Marae, Porirua
Alexander Turnbull Library
On 13 Oct 1975, the hikoi with up to 5000 people arrived at Parliament after marching 1,100 kms throughout the North Is
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Whina presented a Memorial of Rights & petition to Labour PM Bill Rowling & National Party leader Rob Muldoon
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Petition sheet
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
22 Oct 1975: Mrs Titewhai Harawira leading a group of land protestors in song at Parliament
Alexander Turnbull Library
Whina publicly distanced herself from a tent Māori embassy set up on Parliament grounds for 2 months by c.60 protestors
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
12 Feb 1976: Duncan MacIntyre & Whina Cooper exchange a hongi at Parliament
Alexander Turnbull Library
8. Later years: 1981 -
1981: New Year Honours - Whina was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
1981: Dame Whina Cooper at Waitangi
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
1981: Wearing "raukura" (clusters of feathers worn as hair ornaments) at Waitangi at the time of her investiture
Alexander Turnbull Library
1983: At book launch, Auckland Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
9. Home to Panguru: 1983-1994
Dame Whina Cooper returned to Panguru in the Hokianga in 1983 and died there on 26 March 1994. She told an interviewer on her 98th birthday (9 Dec 1993) that her last wish was, "Before I close my eyes, to see our Māori people understand the two races in New Zealand will love . . . that's what you want, that love between two people." (See Independent: Obituary)
4 Feb 1984: Speaking at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Whina Cooper speaking at Waitangi Hui
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
5 February 1984: Speaking at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Whina Cooper at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Whina Cooper speaking at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Whina Cooper at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1984: Whina Cooper, Eva Rickard and Titewhai Harawira at Waitangi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1987: With family and friends at the Polynesian Festival at Tamaki College
Auckland Libraries
22 Nov 1987: During Pope John Paul's visit to Auckland Domain
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1987: At home in Glen Innes
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1987: At home with guest taking tea
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
5 May 1987: Court of Appeal
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
19 Feb 1988: Whina speaks at the opening ceremony of Auckland University Marae
The University of Auckland Library
Whina (bottom right) during opening ceremony
The University of Auckland Library
During opening ceremony
The University of Auckland Library
Whina Cooper, Anne Salmond & Waerete Norman at the opening ceremony
The University of Auckland Library
1988: Whina Discussing future of Dpt of Māori Affairs
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jan 1990: Whina opened 14th Commonwealth Games in Auckland
Auckland Libraries
Whina's message: "‘Let us all remember that the Treaty was signed so that we could all live as one nation in Aotearoa"
NZ On Screen
1990: Whina received the New Zealand Commemoration Medal
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
6 Feb 1991: Whina became twentieth appointee to the Order of New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Sept 1993: Whina was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
20 Sept 1993: At Māori Women's Welfare League book launch for Te Tiratanga Tatau Tatau, Alexandra Park
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1994: Whina organised a memorial stone for suffragist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia at her north Hokianga birthplace
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
26 March 1994: Dame Whina Cooper died at Panguru aged 98
Whangarei Libraries
10. Commemorative events: 2020
A bronze statue commemorating Dame Whina Cooper was unveiled at Pangaru's Waipuna Marae on 3 February 2020. The statue recreates the iconic photo of Dame Whina walking hand in hand with her mokopuna, Irenee Cooper, at the start of the Land March in 1975. Radio New Zealand (ENZ) reported, "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke on the pae, a decision carefully thought through by the kaumātua at Waipuna marae. Te Rarawa leader Haami Piripi said it was only fitting for a wāhine to stand. "It was something that we thought long and hard about and decided that it was appropriate ... following in Whina's footsteps, it would certainly be appropriate. We have to reexamine our own tikanga. We have to progress with the times."
3 Feb 2020: Statue Of Dame Whina unveiled at Waipuna Marae, Panguru
Radio New Zealand
4 Dec 2020: Tunnel boring machine for the Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) named after Dame Whina Cooper was unveiled
TV3
11. Further resources include:
Documentaries / Film:
Also see: Māori Tube: Whina Cooper – Te Whaea o te Motu (1992) – Documentary
Te Rōpū Matakite o Aotearoa march to Parliament, 1975
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Radio / audio interviews:
Books, Poetry, Play:
Webb, Murray, 1947- :[Caricature portrait of Dame Whina Cooper. 1980-90s].
Alexander Turnbull Library
Other resources:
DAME WHINA COOPER
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