Feminism, a powerful movement advocating for women's rights and gender equality, has taken many forms worldwide. In the Māori world, the understanding and expression of feminism weave through the rich cultural fabric, deeply rooted in Whakapapa, Tikanga, and Mātauranga Māori. For many, it is about reclaiming the Mana of Māori women, who historically held significant roles in their communities, ensuring that these positions of strength and influence are recognized and restored in contemporary Aotearoa.
Māori women have always played vital roles in Māori society. They have been the guardians of knowledge, keepers of sacred traditions, and leaders in their own right. The concept of Te Whare Tangata, the house of the people, symbolizes a deep reverence for women as the bearers of future generations. The womb is considered tapu, positioning women as protectors of life and carriers of whakapapa, a lineage central to Māori identity.
Historically, Māori society was more egalitarian in its gender relations than colonial structures imposed upon it. Māori women enjoyed autonomy, actively participating in decision-making, leadership roles, and spiritual responsibilities. The colonial era brought profound disruptions to these dynamics. British laws and Christian values imposed patriarchal structures that undermined the roles and influence of wāhine Māori, reducing their status within both Māori and broader New Zealand society.
This legacy of colonization continues to manifest in the persistent challenges Māori women face today—systemic inequities in health, education, employment, and justice. Yet, in response to these challenges, there is a growing movement to revitalize mana wāhine, the concept of Māori feminism, which celebrates the inherent strength, resilience, and leadership of Māori women. Mana wāhine is a framework that honours Māori women’s experiences, rejects imposed colonial gender norms and seeks to uplift the voices of wāhine Māori within the broader feminist movement.
Mana wāhine is deeply connected to decolonization, as it challenges not only gender inequity but also the colonial systems that have shaped much of the contemporary Māori experience. Māori feminists assert the need for a movement that is intersectional—one that recognizes the interplay between race, culture, and gender. Mainstream feminism often fails to account for the unique experiences of Indigenous women, whose struggles are tied to both sexism and the ongoing impacts of colonization.
The resurgence of mana wāhine is seen in the arts, academia, political activism, and community leadership. Māori women such as Dame Whina Cooper, Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, and contemporary activists like Pania Newton have played pivotal roles in advancing the rights of Māori women. Their contributions underscore the continuity of wāhine leadership and the centrality of Māori women in movements for social justice.
In the contemporary Māori world, feminism is not just a fight for gender equality; it is a fight for the recognition of whakapapa, the honouring of tikanga, and the restoration of the balance between tāne and wāhine. As more Māori women reclaim their mana, they remind the world that feminism in the Māori context is about restoring harmony and honouring the legacy of wāhine toa, the true bearers of the future.