Maori women anxious league stays intact

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 16

Maori women anxious league stays intact

The national body of the Maori Women’s Welfare League must not be lost in the process of devolution, the league’s president, Mrs June Mariu. “The league wants to remain as it is, a national body, with legislation to enable it to act as a funding agent, she said.” Mrs Mariu said the league had a large membership with more than 3000 women, husbands and children representating the Maori whanau (extended family). The league was non-political, intertribal and inter-racial with pakeha members, she said. The league had been canvassing Ministers of Parliament on the need for recognition. If necessary it would send a delegate to the Prime Minister or march to Parliament, she said.

“We have a strong network in place which is already linking with groups such as Plunket. We are working for the good of our people. “Why try and displace the work of the childbearers,, the community workers, the earners of part of the family income.

Why try and displace the wealth of experience and love. Why not use it?” she said. Mrs Mariu said the league was trying to create a better life for Maori people by fighting smoking, poor health, drug dependency, and poor diet. “If we don’t stand up for our children, who will?” she said. The healthy lifestyle five-year plan which had been introduced by the league was already yielding results, she said. Mrs Mariu, a former New Zealand netball representative, has been drawing young women into the campaign through Maori netball tournaments. The Soutfi Island representative on the national executive of the league, Mrs Mary Anne Meha, emphasised the holistic approach to health which formed the basis of Maori culture. "Te Wairua (spirituality), Tinana (the body) and Hine Ngaro (the mind) — we have to combine all these things for a healthy lifestyle,” she said.