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Story: Hōiho – horses and iwi

Wahines’ race

Wahines’ race

These three Māori women are taking part in a wahines’ (women’s) race, in the Waikato in the 1890s. Unlike Pākehā women who rode side-saddle, these riders secured their gowns to their ankles and sat astride the horses.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)

Reference: MNZ-1046-1/4-F

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

Basil Keane, Hōiho – horses and iwi – Horsemanship, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17822/wahines-race (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.

Comments

Liz Burden
13 March 2019
Wahine' Races and Clerk of the course photos also are in the Wanderlust magazine 1930 by Mrs Malcolm Ross There are others in the article about Waikato Ascot.