The Work in Past Years is Analysed

Te Ao Hou, June 1975, Page 9

The Work in Past Years is Analysed ‘In reply, let me begin at the beginning. In the 40s, Maori women joined Health Leagues under the auspices of the Department of Health. Their chief concern was the health of babies and mothers. Then, when tribal committees were set up under the 1945 Social and Economic Act, by the very nature of tribal organisation, women were excluded. The work undertaken had no bearing on the needs of the “mother, the child and the home”. The early recognition of this situation resulted in the formation of Maori women's committees—Maori women then entered welfare work—and, in 1951 formed their national organisation, the only one in existence, the Maori Women's Welfare League. ‘The first Patroness was a Maori lady of great stature, Te Puea Herangi of Waikato. Under the inspired leadership of Whina Cooper, the devoted support and guidance of Rangi Royal and his welfare staff of the Department of Maori Affairs—the name of Rumatiki Wright particularly comes to mind—the League began its work. The names of successive presidents we recall are Miria Logan, Maata Hirini, Ruiha Sage, Miria Karauria and Hine Potaka. With a clear vision of their needs and problems, and with dedication and determination, this body of women moved out in force, leaving no stone unturned in seeking solutions to our post-war problems. No task was too big or too small—they raised money to educate and clothe children in need, undertook housing surveys, demanded more and better houses, built roads, revived Maori arts and crafts, visited hospitals and prisons, and carried out a general programme of fundamental education. Above all, they challenged government policies in every area of social need and justice. The Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. Matiu Rata, opening the conference. ‘All through this first decade, the women were fully supported by their men. The leading men of Maoridom were our advisers, and they came to conferences such as this, unfailingly—Sir Turi Carroll, Mick Jones, the Rev. Ngapaka Kukutai and many other loyal supporters. They knew that what was happening was unique and good, and so they came. ‘In summing up the effectiveness of the League during its first decade of existence, no words of mine can better those expressed by the then Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Corbett, when he stated: “The greatest social

Led by the president and Mr P. B. Reweti, Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori, League members proceed onto Turangawaewae marae for a traditional welcome. advancement of the years was due to the efforts of Maori women themselves, under the Welfare League's inspiration.” This constituted for our organisation the very essence of achievement. (I will never cease to quote this until it finds its way into the annals of our history and social development!!!) ‘The second decade saw the independence of our organisation, the formation of the New Zealand Maori Council—the development of a dichotomy in Maori leadership and thinking, and the consequent effects of such division on issues of public concern. The activities were based largely on differences of functions and interests. Our women began to leave such things as land laws, housing and general politics to men, implicitly recognising their traditional roles in these fields and their pre-emptive status. ‘Because of this act of accommodation, the League assumed a secondary leadership role and somehow lost its momentum. The conference platform and democratic procedures remained our metier, submission and the modern mass media, that of the men. ‘Also during this period, the birth of the Maori Education Foundation took away League educational involvement, removing our close relationship with some of our secondary schools. ‘However, it introduced for us what can be considered our most outstanding contribution in the 60s—the development of the play centre movement in the League, and its extension by our women into Australia amongst the Aborigines. With such obvious ability it would appear to me a shocking indictment that to date, few, if any of these women have been used in a paid government system for pre-school services as pre-school advisers, so urgently needed. ‘Thus ends the first chapter of League history and endeavour over 20 years, and the beginnings of a new era.