Suffragist in New Zealand. Her husband, Hāmiora, was elected premier of the Kotahitanga parliament in June 1892. In 1893 both he and Meri attended the second session of the parliament at Hawke's Bay. The women's suffrage movement had been gaining strength from the 1880s, and Meri had knowledge of this. She like many Māori women, came into contact with the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union, which campaigned for women's suffrage. In 1893 the Speaker of the lower house of the Kotahitanga parliament introduced a motion from Meri, requesting that women be given the right to participate in the selection of members. It was suggested that she come into the house to explain her motion, and later that day she addressed the parliament – the first woman recorded to have done so. She requested not only that Māori women be given the vote, but that they be eligible to sit in the Māori parliament, thus going a step further than the usual aims of the suffrage movement. She argued on the grounds that many Māori women owned and administered their own lands. She remained active in politics throughout her life.
Suffragist in New Zealand. Her husband, Hāmiora, was elected premier of the Kotahitanga parliament in June 1892. In 1893 both he and Meri attended the second session of the parliament at Hawke's Bay. The women's suffrage movement had been gaining strength from the 1880s, and Meri had knowledge of this. She like many Māori women, came into contact with the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union, which campaigned for women's suffrage. In 1893 the Speaker of the lower house of the Kotahitanga parliament introduced a motion from Meri, requesting that women be given the right to participate in the selection of members. It was suggested that she come into the house to explain her motion, and later that day she addressed the parliament – the first woman recorded to have done so. She requested not only that Māori women be given the vote, but that they be eligible to sit in the Māori parliament, thus going a step further than the usual aims of the suffrage movement. She argued on the grounds that many Māori women owned and administered their own lands. She remained active in politics throughout her life.
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See more Mangakahia or Te Tai memorials in:
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- Far North District Mangakahia or Te Tai
- Northland Mangakahia or Te Tai
- New Zealand Mangakahia or Te Tai
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