Biographies – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Cooper, Whina

1895–1994

Te Rarawa woman of mana, teacher, storekeeper, community leader

Whina Cooper’s leadership of the 1975 Māori land march made her a household name.

Stirling, Mihi Kōtukutuku

1870–1956

Te Whānau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Porou woman of mana

A woman of illustrious descent and a major East Coast landowner, Mihi Kōtukutuku spoke on the marae despite male opposition.

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Famous for her soapbox oratory in Wellington streets in the 1930s, communist Connie Rawcliffe (later Birchfield) was politicised by her experience of hard manual work, unemployment and social injustice.

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Ngata, Āpirana Turupa

1874–1950

Ngāti Porou leader, land reformer, politician, scholar

Visionary, hard-working and utterly dedicated to improving the economic, social and cultural position of Māori, Āpirana Ngata was an inspirational leader from the 1890s until his death in 1950.

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