Whina Cooper was born in the Hokianga of Te Rarawa descent, one of fourteen children. She was fortunate to be assisted to attend St Joseph's Màori Girls' School, which enabled her to train as a teacher before returning to her home at Pawarenga. Never one to watch life go by, in her village she taught, farmed, and worked as postmistress and storekeeper. A respected leader, she held high positions in her community, and actively pursued welfare, cultural, and recreational issues at local and national levels.
Whina Cooper was the founding president of the Màori Women's Welfare League, and responsible for initiating a major survey of Màori housing which alerted the government to areas of need. She was noted for her work in land rights, and captured the national imagination when, in 1975, she led the Màori Land March, Te Roopu o te Matakite, from Te Hàpua to Wellington. She gathered thousands of marchers and 60,000 signatures on a memorial of rights to present at parliament a month after setting out. This demonstration of unity helped to set in train a systematic process of acknowledging and redressing the wrongs of more than a century.
Whina Cooper was strong, single-minded, and inspirational, albeit with a sense of mischief. She ignored traditional roles in order to achieve her aims, and set precedents without being aware of it. Her concept of rangatiratanga - leadership - was being out in front, not bound up in organisational matters. She knew every prime minister and used her genius for tactics to make sure she was heard. Whina Cooper had no time for separatism or division, but in her forthright and direct way sought justice for all.
te rarawa primary
Whina Cooper date of birth - December 9, 1895
new zealand
She was famous because she led a famous march
Dame Whina Cooper.
Yes she is a new Zealand Maori leader and she is related to the Tate family why
'Te Whaea O Te Motu', Dame Whina Cooper.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) _ Dame Whina Cooper, a symbol of the modern Maori campaign for social justice and land rights, died Saturday at her home in Panguru. She was 98 years old.
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"My Big Nanny, Dame Whina Cooper led thousands of Maori people from the North Island of New Zealand all the way to Wellington Parliament, fighting for the rights for Maori land. The actual dates my Mum told me, when she walk with my Big Nanny was around early September 1975. I hope that answers your question."
im not sure
dame school
dame school