Māori Women’s Welfare League
Encyclopedia
The Māori Women’s Welfare League or Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko I te Ora is a New Zealand
welfare organisation focusing on Māori women and children. It held its first conference in Wellington in September 1951.
The League's official aims are "To promote fellowship and understanding between Māori and European women and to cooperate with other women's organizations, Departments of State, and local bodies for the furtherance of these objects." The formation of the League was a milestone in Māori culture. Through the organization, women were able to represent themselves in the New Zealand government for the first time. Formed in 1951 in Wellington
, following the mass movement of Māori from rural to urban New Zealand, the league's original goal was to preserve Māori culture through their native arts and crafts while also promoting fellowship and cooperation among various women’s organizations. The league's formation was a direct result of the 1945 Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act. The mostly male members of the committee for social and economic advancement recognized the under-representation of women in government and created the Women's Welfare League to address this issue. Dame Whina Cooper
was elected foundation president. Following its establishment, the League grew rapidly, with branches were established throughout New Zealand. Within its first 14 years of existence, membership had risen to approximately 3,000 members in branches across the country.
The League became heavily involved in housing, health, and education, focusing on families and healthy lifestyles in addition to women's issues. By 1956 the League had 300 branches, 88 district councils and over 4000 members. As president, Dame Whina Cooper became the highest profile Māori woman in New Zealand. Cooper, however, was acting in consultation with the League's executive less and less, and in 1957 she was persuaded to step aside as President. The League's annual conference bestowed her the title "Te Whaea o te Motu" (Mother of the Nation) in 1958. In the early days of the organization the priority was to raise the levels of poverty for the community and replace them with adequate public housing. In the 1960s, the women's league developed an afterschool homework program and established Māori language schools. By the 1980s because of this type of action the organization was able to persuade the government into making te reo Māori part of the country's official languages.
, established the Māori Women's Development Inc (MWD), a specialist lender to encourage innovation and business among Māori. The fund lends to both men and women, but is run and governed by women.
initiative will make it easier for families to buy their first homes. The Māori women will also benefit from an extra $4.09 billion spent on health over the next four years.
The organization continues to have an annual conference and is heavily involved in social issues within New Zealand, especially relating to Māori health and education. Today, the league does more than give women a voice in government; it is responsible for immunization campaigns for babies and teaching young mothers about gardening and growing their own food. The league also seeks to provide health centres and nursing units for the community. They have become an organization which focuses less on women and more on family wellness and the wellness of the community. Recent initiatives have led to new socially concerned organizations including the Pouta Training Centre.
The centre provides programs teaching things vital to basic health, such as quitting smoking. The welfare league is also currently battling a sexist backlash, as it continues to exhibit the power women can hold in saving and nurturing a culture.
Traditional health issues such as childcare and infant mortality continue to feature in the League's programs alongside more recent develpments such as Anti-smoking campaigns; home vegetable growing initiatives such as Kai in the yard and Child car seat campaigns. Many campaigns are centred or hosted on marae
(the community-centre in most small Māori communities) and often involve working with health care professionals or other organisations such as Plunket Society
or District Health Boards
to extend their work into Māori communities.
.
Ten of thirteen self-identified Destiny branches were constituted in at the same time at the Destiny Church's headquarters in Mt Wellington after Hannah Tamaki's nomination. Each of the ten had between 91 and 93 members, apparently to maximise the number of votes. Justice Kos ruled that Tamaki should be reinstated as a candidate in the election, but that the ten recently constituted branches were not legally constituted and should not be able to vote in the election because they had been established completely contrary to the practices and tikanga of the league.
Days after the court decision, then-current President Meagan (Wowie) Joe died, after a long battle with breast cancer
. Tamaki maintained her campaign for President.
Kataraina O'Brien, a 40-year veteran of the League won the election. O'Brien has 12 years experience on the Tainui Regional Executive Board of the League and has been the President of the Matua Branch for the past 8 years. She is active in the Merivale area of Tauranga
and was a finalist in the Tauranga Community Spirit Awards in November 2008 O'Brien is a teacher by profession, having taught at Hato Petera and Auckland Girls' Grammar.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
welfare organisation focusing on Māori women and children. It held its first conference in Wellington in September 1951.
The League's official aims are "To promote fellowship and understanding between Māori and European women and to cooperate with other women's organizations, Departments of State, and local bodies for the furtherance of these objects." The formation of the League was a milestone in Māori culture. Through the organization, women were able to represent themselves in the New Zealand government for the first time. Formed in 1951 in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, following the mass movement of Māori from rural to urban New Zealand, the league's original goal was to preserve Māori culture through their native arts and crafts while also promoting fellowship and cooperation among various women’s organizations. The league's formation was a direct result of the 1945 Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act. The mostly male members of the committee for social and economic advancement recognized the under-representation of women in government and created the Women's Welfare League to address this issue. Dame Whina Cooper
Whina Cooper
Dame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE , was born Hohewhina Te Wake, daughter of Heremia Te Wake of the Te Rarawa iwi, at Te Karaka, Hokianga,...
was elected foundation president. Following its establishment, the League grew rapidly, with branches were established throughout New Zealand. Within its first 14 years of existence, membership had risen to approximately 3,000 members in branches across the country.
The League became heavily involved in housing, health, and education, focusing on families and healthy lifestyles in addition to women's issues. By 1956 the League had 300 branches, 88 district councils and over 4000 members. As president, Dame Whina Cooper became the highest profile Māori woman in New Zealand. Cooper, however, was acting in consultation with the League's executive less and less, and in 1957 she was persuaded to step aside as President. The League's annual conference bestowed her the title "Te Whaea o te Motu" (Mother of the Nation) in 1958. In the early days of the organization the priority was to raise the levels of poverty for the community and replace them with adequate public housing. In the 1960s, the women's league developed an afterschool homework program and established Māori language schools. By the 1980s because of this type of action the organization was able to persuade the government into making te reo Māori part of the country's official languages.
Māori Women's Development Fund
In 1987 the League, under the leadership of Georgina KirbyGeorgina Kirby
Dame Georgina Kamiria Kirby, DBE, QSO, JP is a New Zealander who was made a dame “for services to the Māori people” on 11 June 1994. She attended Horohoro School, Rotorua; Rotorua High School and Auckland University.-Career:...
, established the Māori Women's Development Inc (MWD), a specialist lender to encourage innovation and business among Māori. The fund lends to both men and women, but is run and governed by women.
Patrons
- Te Ariki Te Puea Herangi - founding Patroness 1951-??
- Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu - Patroness ??-2006
- Te AtawhaiTuheitia PakiTuheitia Paki, KStJ is the current Māori King in New Zealand. He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on the same day as her tangihanga took place, on 21 August 2006...
- Patroness 2007-
Presidents
- Dame Whina Cooper, ONZ, DBE, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, President 1951-1957 (founding president) - Miria Logan, MBEMBEMBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
President 1957-1960 - Maata Hirini, MBEMBEMBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
President 1960-1963 - Ruiha Sage, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
President 1964-1968 - Miria Karauria, MBEMBEMBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
President 1968-1971 - Hine Potaka, OBE President 1971-1973
- Dame Miraka Szaszy DBE, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
President 1973-1977 - Dr Erihapeti Murchie-Rehu CNZM, QSOQueen's Service OrderThe Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, President 1977-1980 - Violet Pou, CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, President 1980-1983 - Maraea Te Kawa. QSMQueen's Service OrderThe Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
President 1983 - Dame Georgina Kirby. DBE, QSOQueen's Service OrderThe Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
President 1983-1987; MWD Trustee - June Mariu QSMQueen's Service OrderThe Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, President 1987-1990; MWD Trustee - Aroha Reriti-Crofts, CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, President 1990-1993; MWD Trustee - Areta Koopu CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
President 1993-1996; MWD Trustee - Druis Barrett CNZM President 1996-1999; MWD Trustee
- Jacqui Te Kani CNZM President 1999-2002; Later General ManagerGeneral managerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
; MWD Trustee - Christine Panapa President ??-??; MWD Trustee
- Meagan Joe 2008-2011 (died in office); MWD Trustee
- Kataraina O'Brien 2011-present
Recent developments
The organization's recent focus has been on inspiring Māori women to consider the more non-traditional areas of work. The Modern Apprenticeship Program was designed to promote cross-fertilization within the traditional male and female roles. While it was once important to preserve the old Māori ways of life, leaders within the league today see more benefits in a transition. By combining women and men in the workforce the League hopes to close the pay gap. Almost 70% of women's work is unpaid compared to 40% of male's work. Another recent initiative has been to set housing as one of New Zealand's priorities. The new KiwiSaverKiwiSaver
The KiwiSaver scheme is a New Zealand voluntary long-term savings scheme which came into operation from Monday, 2 July 2007. The main purpose of the KiwiSaver fund is for retirement savings....
initiative will make it easier for families to buy their first homes. The Māori women will also benefit from an extra $4.09 billion spent on health over the next four years.
The organization continues to have an annual conference and is heavily involved in social issues within New Zealand, especially relating to Māori health and education. Today, the league does more than give women a voice in government; it is responsible for immunization campaigns for babies and teaching young mothers about gardening and growing their own food. The league also seeks to provide health centres and nursing units for the community. They have become an organization which focuses less on women and more on family wellness and the wellness of the community. Recent initiatives have led to new socially concerned organizations including the Pouta Training Centre.
The centre provides programs teaching things vital to basic health, such as quitting smoking. The welfare league is also currently battling a sexist backlash, as it continues to exhibit the power women can hold in saving and nurturing a culture.
Traditional health issues such as childcare and infant mortality continue to feature in the League's programs alongside more recent develpments such as Anti-smoking campaigns; home vegetable growing initiatives such as Kai in the yard and Child car seat campaigns. Many campaigns are centred or hosted on marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
(the community-centre in most small Māori communities) and often involve working with health care professionals or other organisations such as Plunket Society
Plunket Society
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society is an incorporated society in New Zealand which provides a range of health services to healthy babies and young children...
or District Health Boards
District Health Board (New Zealand)
District Health Boards in New Zealand are organisations established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, responsible for ensuring the provision of health and disability services to populations within a defined geographical area. They have existed since 1 January 2001 when the ...
to extend their work into Māori communities.
2011 elections
In 2011, Hannah Tamaki, Auckland based co-founder of the Destiny Church campaigned for presidency of the League. Since Tamaki joined the League five years previously, the church created several branches of the League within the church. The league distributed voting papers without Tamaki's name and announced that some branches and some members were being investigated. Tamaki launched legal action in the High CourtHigh Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
.
Ten of thirteen self-identified Destiny branches were constituted in at the same time at the Destiny Church's headquarters in Mt Wellington after Hannah Tamaki's nomination. Each of the ten had between 91 and 93 members, apparently to maximise the number of votes. Justice Kos ruled that Tamaki should be reinstated as a candidate in the election, but that the ten recently constituted branches were not legally constituted and should not be able to vote in the election because they had been established completely contrary to the practices and tikanga of the league.
Days after the court decision, then-current President Meagan (Wowie) Joe died, after a long battle with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Tamaki maintained her campaign for President.
Kataraina O'Brien, a 40-year veteran of the League won the election. O'Brien has 12 years experience on the Tainui Regional Executive Board of the League and has been the President of the Matua Branch for the past 8 years. She is active in the Merivale area of Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
and was a finalist in the Tauranga Community Spirit Awards in November 2008 O'Brien is a teacher by profession, having taught at Hato Petera and Auckland Girls' Grammar.
External links
- Māori Women's Welfare League at Christchurch City Libraries
- Māori Women's Welfare League at Te Ara - The encyclopaedia of New Zealand
- Māori Women's Welfare League at Archives New Zealand