THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025
King Country
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A league in union kingcountrynews.nz
AUGUST 28, 2025
Sunday’s gathering attracted members and former members from all over the North Island.
Branch members from Kawhia, Te Awamutu and Ōtorohanga joined their Te Kuiti colleagues and Tainui regional executive members last weekend for a significant anniversary. Te Tokanganui-ā-Noho Māori Women’s Welfare League celebrated their 75th jubilee on Sunday at Te Kuiti Pa. Past members also travelled from Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua and throughout the King Country. “This auspicious occasion was hastily organised in under a month as the date August 28, 1950, was recently noted on an historic league banner,” branch president Dede Downs said. A History Project committee, which had been collecting and collating data over the past few months, swung into action to present displays of documents and photographs depicting activities over the
past 75 years. “We have all been inspired by our branch history, membership is growing day by day, and we welcome like-minded wahine to join us in our mahi within local communities,” Downs said. Tainui Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori i te Ora league executive Jamie Toko called the gathering a milestone occasion. Among the memories were bill board size pictures of the league’s national conference held in 1951. They were a focal point for discussions and memories as current members pointed out their mothers, grandmothers, aunties and cousins among the faces. Alongside these were smaller personal photos of members and books that referenced the works of the branch. Among the books was one penned by the late Rora Paki-Titi, titled Rangimarie, Recollections of her life, published in 1998.
LAWYERS STANDING BY FARMERS
The book recounts King Country life from the 19th century to present day. The author was a foundation member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League and appointed in 1991 as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. On the day a short passage from the book was read aloud. It described an uprising of Māori women from within the regions of Maniapoto, motivated by the overpowering urge to enhance the status of Māori women in their homes, in their communities and across the nation. As the passage was read, it mentioned names and roles of individuals, that brought an instant smile for some who listened and it acknowledged those who supported the movement.. Also on display was a large picture of the late Dame Rangimarie Hetet, a past patroness of the branch, a kākahu she
had woven and work in progress from great granddaughter and great great granddaughter Clowdy and Hinearangi Ngatai who are fourth and fifth generation members of league. The inclusion of weaving in the display acknowledged the critical role played by the league in providing a platform to call to action Māori women around the nation to retain the practice of Māori weaving. It is a role both Diggeress Te Kanawa and Rangimarie Hetet have been noted for. The Māori Women’s Welfare League website notes it was officially founded in 1951 and is the only national charitable Māori women’s organisation. It has more than 150 peka – branches – and their motto, Tatau Tatau stands for working together as an organisation, to enable and empower Māori women and their whānau to follow and achieve their aspirations. Flax weave grayscale reduced size.pdf 1 2/07/2025 4:01:10 pm
Flax weave grayscale reduced size.pdf 1 2/07/2025 4:01:10 pm
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