Dame Whina Cooper: Story In photos

Whina's parents were Heremia Te Wake & Kare Pauro Kawatihi

Her father was the son of William Hoard (a whaler) and Te Oki (a high-ranking woman of Te Rarawa)

Whina's father was a devout Catholic

1902: Whina first attended Whakarapa Native School aged about 7 years

Whina walked 6 miles from Te Karaka to attend school; then her family moved to Whakarapa when she was nine

From 1907, Whina attended St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College in Napier with sponsorship from Sir James Carroll

A devout Catholic, Whina's father let Carroll (Māori minister of Native Affairs) know his wish to send Whina to College

1911: Whina returned to Whakarapa (renamed Panguru in 1923) to live with her parents & work at the co-operative store

1911: Whina's father wanted her to marry Tureiti Te Heuheu Tukino V, leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Tūreiti was widowed - his wife Te Rerehau Kahotea died on 3 Nov 1911. Whina refused to agree to an arranged marriage.

c1914: Northern Māori MP Peter Buck helped campaign by Whina & her father to stop farmer draining Whakarapa mudflats

Whina's father challenged farmer's lease through Parliament & court system, as area used to gather seafood & race horses

Buck's successor, Taurekareka (Tau) Henare (1914-38), also intervened until farmer's lease was withdrawn by Marine Dept

Whina (aged 18) led group to fill in drains as these were dug by farmer & were trespassed but lease was revoked

1915-1916: Whina became the housekeeper at Catholic presbytery in Rawene built by Father Charles Kreymborg

Whina thought of becoming a nun; then decided to move back to her parents & the store

Later in 1916, Whina met a surveyor working for the Native Land Court - Richard Gilbert

Richard Tuhaia Gilbert (born 18 Dec 1891) was Te Waiariki of Ngati Wai from Ngunguru

10 May 1917: Whina & Richard Gilbert were married in Rawene by Father Kreymborg

They lived in her parents' home where their daughter (Carla Maude Te Morehu Gilbert) was born in 1918

1918: After death of her mother (June 1917) & father (Nov 1918), Whina evicted from parents' home by her step-brothers

As her father hadn't changed his will, Whina and her husband & daughter moved out to family land at Te Karaka

1919-1920: Whina worked at local kauri gumfields & Gilbert as a timber worker at Tapuwae during week

Whina and Richard built a nikau whare. Their son, Gerard Tuhaia Glibert, was born in 1919.

1923: Whina called a public meeting that resulted in the name Whakarapa being changed to Panguru

The name change was to distinguish it from Whakapara south of Whangarei

1920: Purchased family house & farm from Whina's brothers & the village store

Kreymborg, who was now parish priest at Whakarapa, had offered a loan from his inheritance, which they repaid in 3 years

They built a new shop & storeroom, added a post office, and opened branches at Waihou & Mitimiti

Whina bought items in bulk; exported kauri gum & Jew’s ear fungus (Auricularia polytricha) & acquired a launch & a truck

Then they purchased a second farm at Tautehere & replaced their dairy herds

They built new milking sheds, & bred pedigree Jersey cows

Whina also had a leading role in church & community activities

A women’s committee worked with Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart to organise hui, tangihanga and fund-raising

Whina opened her own community centre called the Parish Hall next to the shop & built a clinic alongside the store

Patients were see by Dr G. M. Smith’s Hokianga health service

Whina's sporting interests: playing hockey, netball, table tennis, fishing, shooting, & coaching rugby & basketball

Whina and companion wearing kahu huruhuru possibly at a sports event in 1930s-40s

June 1932: Whina attended Rotorua Land Conference at the invite of Native Minister Sir Āpirana Ngata

Ngata showed how 1929 legislation enabled Māori to borrow money to clear, drain, grass & fence land

Aug 1932: Sir Āpirana spoke at a public meeting at Whina's Parish Hall

Ngata had asked Whina's opinion at Rotorua & she answered: “Give us the help (money) and we'll beat you.” (Te Ao Hou)

1930s: Whina & Āpirana Ngata set up 11 Māori land development schemes in Hokianga district

Of the 98,000 acres in the Hokianga district, 7,000 acres were in Panguru, Waihou and Motuti

Whina supervised Panguru & Waihou

In Panguru a working bee of 80 carried out community farmwork, from one farm to the next—clearing, fencing, & drainage

Whina also accompanied Bill Cooper (interpreter & senior land officer appointed by Ngata) throughout Northland

Bill Cooper had also attended the Rotorua Conference. (He was born in 1895 of Ngati Kahungunu & European descent)

Whina began breeding pigs, obtaining a sow and boar from Princess Te Puea

March 1935: Whina's husband Richard Gilbert died aged 43 years due to ill-health

Richard's health had declined following cancer

Afterwards, Whina moved near Whangarei

She left Panguru with William (Bill) Turakiuta Cooper after he obtained a separation from his 3rd wife

Whina and Bill lived at Kamo, Otiria & Te Karaka

Their daughter, Merekaraka Hine-ki-runga, was born on 27 Jan 1938 (d. 2006)

6 Feb 1940: Whina organised catering for the opening of the meeting house Te Whare Rūnanga at Waitangi

Whina and crossed the threshold first in the tapu removal ceremony. The meeting house faces the Treaty House. (Te Ara)

Bill Cooper's involvement with the building of the Otiria meeting houses acknowledged in Te Ao Hou

21 Feb 1941: Whina married Bill Cooper

The marriage took place on day of his divorce. Their son, Nopera Tau Henare William, was born on 5 June 1941 (d. 2003)

1942: They returned to Panguru & Whina helped with fund-raising for the Māori War Effort Organisation

Whina "established close relationships with the minister in charge, Paraire Paikea, and with Te Puea Herangi". (Te Ara)

Feb 1946: Whina welcomed home members of Māori Battalion at Te Kotahitanga marae at Kaikohe

In late 1940s, they bought the 124-acre farm Tautoro

William's twin brother, Eru, and his family came to live at Panguru on the Tautehere property Whina had bought in 1920s

1946-1952: Whina was secretary & trustee of the Panguru Tribal Executive Committee

April 1947: Whina was elected president of North Hokianga Rugby Union

At the time she was the first known woman to be elected to such a role (Te Ara)

Whina and Bill arranged the renovation of Te Porowini meeting house at Taumarere

Whina's husband Bill became a member of the Hokianga County Council

The Coopers campaigned for a district high school & Whina donated six acres of flat land at Panguru

As the Govt intended to only build a one-roomed school, the local Catholic primary school was moved there in Aug 1949

After her second husband Bill Cooper died of heart attack on 4 Aug 1949, Whina moved to Grey Lynn, Auckland

Photo: Whina standing between carved panels (1940s-1950s)

1952: League Conference

One of the League's first initiatives was a survey of Māori housing in Auckland in July 1952

Outcome was Auckland City Council & Dept of Māori Affairs improving quota of state and council housing for Māori tenants

1953: League Conference

By mid-1950s, Whina involved with establishing over 300 branches, 88 district councils & 4000 members

Whina & members worked on Māori housing, child welfare, employment, education, and health issues

1950s: Whina was also President of Panguru Branch of Federated Farmers

Overseas inquiries tried to "trace any women holding down similar offices and none could be found." (Te Ao Hou)

1957: Retired as Māori Women's League President

Was elected as delegate to the Pan Pacific & South East Asia Women's Association Conference in Colombo, Ceylon in 1958

1960s: At Māori Community Centre, Newmarket

In 1960s, Whina "worked on a local level around Auckland, but kept largely out of the national spotlight" (Wikipedia)

1962: Whina & W. Hotere led the committee to celebrate Rev. Henare Arekatera Tate of Panguru ordained as 2d Māori priest

Approx.2000 Māori took part altogether in Tate's first mass & various functions in Auckland, including at Trades Hall

1963: Attending Māori Women's Welfare League hui, Rotorua

Photo taken by Ans Westra

1963: Whina lost election to Matiu Rata for Northern Māori electorate

Whina stood as an independent and came sixth, receiving 257 votes to Rata’s 3,090

1966: Auckland Catholic Māori Centre Te Unga Waka opened after two years of fundraising - concerts, raffles etc

Foyer plaque: "This place is the fruits of the efforts of the people, and of their Mother, Whina Cooper."

1960s: Photographed by Ans Westra

1968: Whina organised a Waitangi Day pageant at Carlaw Park on the significance of the Treaty

Women from Te Unga Waka joined others at a Māori Women's Conference held in Wellington in 1974

Prime Minister Robert Muldoon became a great friend of Dame Whina

Whina often stayed with Muldoon's family at their Hatfield Beach bach near Orewa, & they shared a love of gardening

1975: Te Rōpū o te Matakite (‘Those with Foresight’) was launched at a hui convened by Whina at Māngere Marae

This coalition of Māori groups had concerns over historic sale of Māori land & the control of land still in Māori hands

June 1975: Whina photographed by Robin Morrison

Booklet issued by Te Rōpū o te Matakite explaining "Why we march"

Itinerary for Land March planned by Te Rōpū o te Matakite

Organiser contact names were Whina Cooper and Witi McMath. Carmen Kirkwood was Whina's secretary.

Whina's co-organisers included Witi McMath & Tama Poata

Other organisers included Northland kuia Titewhai Harawira and Joseph (Joe) Parata Hawke

Discussions held between the Police and land march organisers on safety issues

Letter (23 Sept) from Minister of Police explained role of Police for safety measures & medical aid for marchers

On 14 Sept 1975, Whina & 50 marchers left Te Hāpua in the Far North

Māori land march participants had bedded down for the night at Te Hāpua marae

On 23 Sept 1975, Whina & the marchers crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge

Marchers trained with the military before crossing the bridge - one step in front of the other to avoid sway

The number of marchers grew along the way

The hikoi was supposed to be on foot, but as more elderly people were joining the organisers allowed vehicles

At instructions of Whina there were no placards or banners, just a white flag on a carved pouwhenua or land marker pole

The pouwhenua was not allowed to touch the ground until land grievances were settled

Māori Land March along Victoria Street in Hamilton

Whina Cooper addressing Māori Land March at Hamilton

1 Oct 1975: Marchers gathered outside Tauakira meeting-house at Otoko Marae, north-east of Whanganui

The march stopped at 25 marae, gathering signatures for a Memorial of Rights

11 Oct 1975: Whina speaking on Takapuwahia Marae, Porirua

On 13 Oct 1975, the hikoi with up to 5000 people arrived at Parliament after marching 1,100 kms throughout the North Is

Whina presented a Memorial of Rights & petition to Labour PM Bill Rowling & National Party leader Rob Muldoon

The Memorial of Rights asked the state to preserve the mana and tūrangawaewae of the Māori people

Petition sheet

Memorial of Rights was signed by 200 Māori elders and the petition by 60,000 people

22 Oct 1975: Mrs Titewhai Harawira leading a group of land protestors in song at Parliament

Whina publicly distanced herself from a tent Māori embassy set up on Parliament grounds for 2 months by c.60 protestors

12 Feb 1976: Duncan MacIntyre & Whina Cooper exchange a hongi at Parliament

Greetings exchanged before talks on the group's request over the Māori land issues

1977: Whina at Bastion Point

1981: Wearing "raukura" (clusters of feathers worn as hair ornaments) at Waitangi at the time of her investiture

1981: At Te Tii Marae, Waitangi, on Waitangi Day

1983: At book launch, Auckland Museum

5 February 1984: Speaking at Waitangi

1984: Whina Cooper, Eva Rickard and Titewhai Harawira at Waitangi

22 Nov 1987: During Pope John Paul's visit to Auckland Domain

1987: At home in Glen Innes

1987: At home with guest taking tea

5 May 1987: Court of Appeal

Crown must pay heed to previous Māori ownership when disposing of surplus assets

19 Feb 1988: Whina speaks at the opening ceremony of Auckland University Marae

Auckland University Marae, Tane-nui-a-Rangi, Waipapa

Whina (bottom right) during opening ceremony

During opening ceremony

Whina Cooper, Anne Salmond & Waerete Norman at the opening ceremony

1988

Photo by Gil Hanly

1988

1988: Whina Discussing future of Dpt of Māori Affairs

Jan 1990: Whina opened 14th Commonwealth Games in Auckland

Whina meets young people of the Commonwealth at the Te Puea Memorial Marae, Mangere

Whina's message: "‘Let us all remember that the Treaty was signed so that we could all live as one nation in Aotearoa"

1990: Whina received the New Zealand Commemoration Medal

6 Feb 1991: Whina became twentieth appointee to the Order of New Zealand

NZ's highest civil honour, See https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/ issue/52564/supplement/29

Sept 1993: Whina was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal

Awarded to: "Dame Whina COOPER, ONZ, DBE, JP, of Hokianga"

20 Sept 1993: At Māori Women's Welfare League book launch for Te Tiratanga Tatau Tatau, Alexandra Park

1994: Whina organised a memorial stone for suffragist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia at her north Hokianga birthplace

In May 1893, Meri addressed Māori Parliament - Māori women be given the vote & be eligible to sit in Māori Parliament

1975: Te Roopu o te Matakite march on Parliament

1983: Koga - Whina Cooper (NZ On Screen interview, Part 1)

1983: Hoha - Whina Cooper (NZ On Screen interview, Part 2)

1978: Whina discusses with Alwyn Owen how she started her work with the Māori Women's Welfare League (Part 1)

1978: Whina discusses with Alwyn Owen how she started her work with the Māori Women's Welfare League (Part 2)

19 Apr 1982: Dame Whina Cooper Interviewed by Michael King

6 March 1986: Sir James Henare interviewed by Michael King about Dame Whina Cooper

2015: Panellists Cyril Chapman, Vivian Hutchinson & David Williams reflect on their involvement in the land march

2017: Interview with author Hannah Jewell whose book includes Dame Whina Cooper

2018: Interview with Haami Piripi who participated in the hikoi as a teen

Te Ara - Dictionary of New Zealand biography provides information (compiled in 2000)

2003: Published in 'Harpies & Heroines' book by the New Zealand Cartoon Archive

2004: "Hīkoi: Forty Years of Māori Protest" by Aroha Harris

2011: Dame Whina Cooper is one of the 50 Kiwis listed in Maria Gill's book

2011: Includes a chapter on Dame Whina Cooper and her relationship with the Press

2021: Includes Dame Whina Cooper

NZHistory article

Wikipedia article on Whina Cooper

1987: Wriiten by Michael King & published by New Zealand. Department of Education, School Publications Branch

Tuia Mātauranga Curiosity Card: 1975 Land hikoi includes digital resources

2015: Search engine Google marked 120th birthday of Whina Cooper with image by doodler Olivia Huynh seen by NZ searchers

2016: RadioNZ article "Not one more acre" - Northland kuia Titewhai Harawira interviewed about Whina and the land march