Meri Mangakāhia

Biography

Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, of Te Rarawa, was born in the Hokianga district. Her husband, Hamiora Mangakāhia of Hauraki, was elected Premier of the Māori Kotahitanga parliament in 1892.

At a meeting of the parliament in Hawke’s Bay in 1893, Meri Te Tai presented a motion requesting that women participate in the selection of members. She later addressed the parliament on her motion – the first woman known to have done so.

During her speech she urged that women should not only be allowed to vote, but also to sit in the Māori parliament as members. Many Māori women owned land in their own right and were entitled to have their say in decisions affecting them. The matter lapsed, but Meri Te Tai remained involved in Māori politics and welfare, and probably took part in the women’s committees of the Kotahitanga (Māori unity) movement, forerunners of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. Meri Te Tai died of influenza in 1920, aged 52.

Adapted by Jamie Mackay from the DNZB biography by Angela Ballara

Community contributions

3 comments have been posted about Meri Mangakāhia

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Anonymous

Posted: 01 Aug 2023

Meri Mangakāhia is one of my great-great (many great) grandmothers :)

Anonymous

Posted: 18 Oct 2022

you should be putting this information here also https://www.nomaoriallowed.com

Anonymous

Posted: 08 Mar 2022

How come we knew sbout Kate Shepard but not tenei wahine toa, Meri te tai Mangakāhia. Its women's Day 🥺