Story: Women’s movement

Meri Mangakāhia (2nd of 2)

Meri Mangakāhia

A portrait of prominent Māori suffragist Meri Mangakāhia is displayed by her granddaughter Raukawa Lillian Adams and great-grandson Lucien Mangakāhia. Meri Mangakāhia belonged to Ngā Kōmiti Wāhine (the committees of women), which were part of the 19th-century Kīngitanga (Māori king) movement. Addressing Te Paremata Māori (the Māori parliament), Mangakāhia argued that women should be able to vote and stand for election to it. Te Paremata was vitally concerned with land loss, and Māori women’s ownership and control of land was one reason why they needed to take part in discussion and decision-making. Another reason was the hope that Queen Victoria would reply to a petition about land loss presented by Māori women – petitions from Māori men had gone unanswered.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP-1993-0941
Photograph by Ross Giblin

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Megan Cook, 'Women’s movement - The 19th-century women’s movement', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/27887/meri-mangakahia (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Megan Cook, published 5 May 2011