Hakaraia wilson
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It’s been more than a century since women gained the right to vote in New Zealand, and since that time our cultural landscape has changed dramatically.
What does it mean to be a woman of colour in a predominantly white society? Photo: Creative Commons
Today, New Zealand is made up of a tapestry of diverse cultures. But back when the suffrage movement was taking place, it was largely driven by colonial Kotahitanga women.
At least, that’s what the history books would tell you.
Māori suffragists were also part of the movement, but have largely gone unrecognised.
Lizzie Marvelly is a singer, a columnist for the NZ Herald and a public speaker on women’s issues. She’s currently co-producing a documentary about Māori suffragists called He Māngai Wāhine, which traces those stories of Māori women who were politically active around the time of the suffrage campaign.
Lizzie Marvelly Photo: RNZ
One of those women was Mere Te Tai Mangakāhia, whose father was a Rangatira.
“She was only 24 when she stood at the Kotahitanga and presented a motion asking for women to be enfranchise
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“When I’m with my siblings, I feel the power of a love that accepts who you happen to be, without question.” Tainui Stephens (right) with his brother Dale and sister Māmari, in 2003, when Māmari was admitted to the bar. (Photo supplied)
Apart from our parents, our brothers and sisters generally are the first people we ever live with — and we learn much about human relationships from them, as Tainui Stephens writes here.
I murdered my brother’s golliwog.
I was seven and Dale was five. We lived beside a railway line in Searells Road, Christchurch. One day, we had a brotherly spat — and I decided to punish him that evening when the 7 o’clock train whooshed past our backyard.
After dinner, I grabbed his golliwog, took it to the railway line and laid it on one of the tracks. When the train hooted in the distance, I called him to come over and see something interesting. He ran out just in time to witness his beloved toy get sliced in two. He screamed and burst into tears. Our stoush was over, but I’ll never forget the pain on the small face that I knew
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Libby Hakaraia
Producer/Director
Libby Hakaraia is a producer and director with over 25 years experience in broadcasting and journalism.
This includes 1000’s of hours of interviewing for radio and televison as well as producing and directing 16 prime time documentaries for TV1, TV3 and MTS.
For many years, Libby has been a key participant in the independent film and television production industry. Libby has been both an executive member of the board of Nga Aho Whakaari – Maori in the Screen production as well as an executive board member of SPADA –the NZ Screen Production and Development Association.
Libby Hakaraia has a strong background in both Television and Radio journalism and current affairs. She has won a number of awards, traveled widely both nationally and internationally and has a strong grounding in Maori affairs.
Documentaries and Series
- Requiem for Charlie Documentary MTS 2012 (ANZAC Day documentary on Maori Battalion Veteran Charlie Shelford)
- The Scotsman and the Maori Documentary MTS 2010 (Dame Anne Salmond
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