Cooper, Dame Whina Biography 1991

COOPER, Dame Whina
ONZ 1991, DBE 1980 (CBE 1974, MBE 1953, Justice of the Peace 1952; Whaea O Te Motu (Mother of the Nation)
Born Te Karaka, Hokianga, 9 December 1895, daughter of Heremia Te Wake (a chief of Ngati-Manawa hapu of Te Rarawa tribe) and Kare Pauro; married (1) Richard Gilbert, 1916 (died 1935); (2) William Cooper, son of Robert Cooper, 1935 (died 1949); one daughter one son (d) (by 1st m), two daughters two sons (by 2nd m).
Education: St Joseph’s Maori Girls College, Napier; trained as school teacher while teaching assistant, Pawarenga Native School, Hokianga.
Postmistress, storekeeper, farmer (sometime President, Panguru Federated Farmers), Panguru until 1950; President, Hokianga Rugby Union late 1940s; Founding President, Maori Women’s Welfare League, 1951-1957; Founding President, Te Ropu O Te Matakite 1975 and led great land march from Northland to Parliament that year; prime mover in establishment Panguru Area School gymnasium, 1985; formed Panguru Iwi Board, 1991 influential figure at forefront of Maoridom more than 60 years; active in many Maori organisations relating to welfare, cultural, recreational issues at local, national level.
Publications: Subject of Whina-A Biography of Whina Cooper (by Michael King), 1983 (reissued by Penguin 1991).
Address: c/o PO, Panguru, Hokianga.