Dame Whina Cooper | |
|---|---|
 Whina Cooper addressing the Māori land march at Hamilton in 1975 | |
| 1st President of the Māori Women's Welfare League | |
| In office 1951–1957 | |
| Succeeded by | Mīria Logan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hōhepine Te Wake 9 December 1895 Te Karaka, Hokianga, New Zealand |
| Died | 26 March 1994 (aged 98) Panguru, New Zealand |
| Spouses | Richard Gilbert
(m. 1917; died 1935)William Cooper
(m. 1941; died 1945) |
| Children | 7 |
| Occupation | Activist, historian, schoolteacher |
Dame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE (9 December 1895 – 26 March 1994) was a respected kuia (Māori elder), who worked for many years for the rights of her people, and particularly to improve the lot of Māori women. She is remembered for leading the 1975 Māori land march from Te Hāpua to Wellington, a distance of 1,100 km (680 mi), at the age of 79.
Her wide influence and nationally recognised activity led her to be acknowledged with awards in both the British (Imperial) and New Zealand Royal Honours Systems, and by her own people, who bestowed the title Te Whaea o te Motu ('Mother of the Nation') upon her. She is the subject of the 2022 film Whina.