Biography: Ensor, Kura Te Whiria

Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan and ‘Tania’

A group of five Māori standing and performing a waiata in front of the Parliament Buildings, surrounded by other people. Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan is wearing Kura Ensor’s dress, which has a repeating koru pattern.

Politician Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan wore Kura Ensor’s dress ‘Tania’ when she greeted the Māori Land March at Parliament in October 1975. It was a high point of Ensor’s career. From left, Matiu Rata, Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, Hārata Solomon, Sally Marshall, and Wara Kātene. Koro Wetere and Robert Muldoon can be glimpsed in the background.

Using this item

John Miller

by John Miller

How to cite this page

Natalie Smith. 'Ensor, Kura Te Whiria', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2024. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47604/whetu-tirikatene-sullivan-and-tania (accessed 4 June 2026).