Minister for Mฤori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis today joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the Cooper whฤnau, Waipuna Marae and the Panguru community to unveil a commemorative statue of the late Dame Whina Cooper.
The statue recreates the iconic photo of Dame Whina walking hand in hand with her mokopuna Irenee Cooper, at the start of the Land March on 14 September 1975.
โThis day for Dame Whina is long overdue. Weโve been working with the Cooper whฤnau and the Waipuna Marae Trust on this kaupapa for a long time, so itโs fantastic to be here recognising Dame Whina and the vast contribution she made through her life to Aotearoa and Mฤori,โ Kelvin Davis said.
โDame Whina paved the way for not only her own people, but an entire nation. Her contribution to New Zealand – particularly the Mฤori Crown relationship through the 1975 Land March – is an indelible part of our history.
โAs we unveil this statue, the comparative lack of monuments to prominent New Zealand women and prominent Mฤori, is a timely reminder that thereโs still much to do to recognise the status and contribution of women and Mฤori in our society.
โThis statue celebrates Dame Whinaโs leadership, rangatiratanga and mana, and will serve as an ongoing testament to the legacy she left for all New Zealanders,โ Kelvin Davis said.
The unveiling of the statue forms part of this yearโs commemorations for Waitangi.
โข The statue was funded through Te Arawhitiโs Whai Hononga โ Supporting significant Mฤori Crown events programme, which aims to strengthen a shared national identity that recognises, values and encourages strong partnerships between Mฤori and the Crown.