Wāhine Māori and the right to vote

Pre colonialial New Zealand

Māori women traditionally had a say in the affairs of the tribe, and could inherit land. However, European settlers often preferred to deal with men. Only 13 women signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Māori women continued to fight for land rights, and for the vote for women.

Source: Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Paul Meredith, 'Te mana o te wāhine – Māori women', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/te-mana-o-te-wahine-maori-women (accessed 19 July 2019)

Wāhine Māori included

The Electoral Act of 1983 gave all women in New Zealand the right to vote - this included wāhine Māori.

Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia (1868–1920)

Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Teinga, Ngāti Manawa, Te Kaitutae.

Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia was a prominent and influential Māori woman activist in the 1890s. She was well-educated and married to Hāmiora Mangakāhia, the first Premier of the Kotahitanga Māori parliament which first met in 1892. Meri made the most of her connections and social position to advance women’s rights. In 1893 she was involved in establishing Ngā Kōmiti Wāhine, committees associated with the Kotahitanga parliament. These addressed issues confronting Māori women and their whānau. Domestic violence, smoking, alcoholism, religion, single mothers and the retention of traditional skills were all on the agenda. [1]

One of Meri’s most notorious acts was to present a motion at a Kotahitanga meeting in Hawke’s Bay requesting that women vote and participate in the selection of members. She personally addressed the parliament on the motion – the first woman known to have done so. 

Source: 'Meri Mangakāhia', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/so-that-women-can-get-the-vote, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 13-Sep-2018 (accessed 19 July 2019)

Iriaka Matiu Rātana

Iriaka Rātana, the first Māori woman to become a member of Parliament, represented the enormous Western Maori electorate from 1949 to 1969. 

Source: Anne Else, 'Gender inequalities - Politics and citizenship', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/28636/first-maori-woman-mp (accessed 19 July 2019)

Wāhine Māori who signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition

Mr Wi Pere's thoughts about women in Parliament.

In honour of wāhine Māori and the vote.