Mana Wahine Evening: Celebrating the Unsung Mahi of Wāhine Māori

The Auckland Women’s Centre welcomes the community to Mana Wahine, this Tuesday 9 October at 7pm at the Western Springs Community Hall. Part of the commemorations of 125 years since suffrage, the evening will be a chance to celebrate the lives of wāhine Māori.

The Mana Wahine evening will be hosted by accomplished presenter of TV3’s The Hui, Mihingarangi Forbes with three speakers:

· Te Kotahi Research Institute Director, Associate Professor Leonie Pihama (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mahanga, Nga Mahanga a Tairi)

· AUT Senior Law Lecturer, Khylee Quince (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu)

· Action Station Director, Laura O’Connell Rapira (Te Āti Awa, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa)

Auckland Women’s Centre Manager Leonie Morris says the Centre wants all women to thrive. “While many Māori women are doing really well, we know that too many experience unique challenges, hardships and discrimination because of the compounding effects of colonisation, racism and sexism,” she says.

“We are honoured to have these three highly respected wāhine toa speak at our forum. Leonie Pihama is a leading kaupapa Māori educator and researcher and an expert on Mana Wahine. Khylee Quince has recent success asking judges when sentencing to consider the wider picture for Māori offenders of the impact of colonisation on their lives. Laura O’Connell Rapira is a grassroots innovator, one of the new faces of activism in Aotearoa New Zealand and a role model for young women.

We hope that the forum will help people gain a deeper understanding of the challenges Māori women face and strengthen commitment to Māori self-determination and gender equality.”

Everyone is invited to attend this free community event proudly supported by the Ministry for Women’s Suffrage 125 Community Fund. Come along for inspiring kōrero followed by light refreshments.

ENDS