Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Tēnei rā Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora te whakanui i ēnei 75 tau o te taunaki i te wahine Māori, mō te iwi katoa te painga. Tūhuratia ngā mahi – tatau tatau, piki mai, kake mai!
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The Maori Women’s Welfare League is celebrating 75 years of supporting wāhine Māori. Discover their extraordinary mahi – tātau tātau, everyone’s welcome!
Fri 25 Sep – Jan 2027
Mana Whenua, Level 4
Free, with museum entry
All ages
25 minutes
Seating available
This small display of taonga explores the stories behind some of the league’s many achievements – from setting up Aotearoa Māori Netball to improving housing and education for whānau.
See Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts’ kākahu and Dame Whina Cooper’s fox stole – strong leaders who had real style. A kitchen table displays a teacup belonging to Princess Te Puea, the league’s patron. There’s even a copy of the league’s beloved recipe book from 1982 – pāua with pineapple sauce, anyone?
Watch videos capturing the league’s groundbreaking achievements and find out how young wāhine are shaping its future.
The seed I would like to plant in your heart is a vision of Aotearoa where all our people can live together in harmony and share the wisdom from each other.
– Dame Whina Cooper
Join us in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Maori Women’s Welfare League and the opening of the display Tatau Tatau: Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora | Maori Women’s Welfare League. Discover the extraordinary history and work of the League through a weekend of kōrero, waiata, and raranga.
Fri 25 Sep 2026, 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Sat 26 Sep 2026, 10.15am – 3.45pm
Sun 27 Sep 2026, 10.15am – 12.45pm
Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake
Founded in 1951, Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora (Maori Women’s Welfare League Inc.) is the only national charitable Maori Womens Organisation in Aotearoa. Since the League was founded, it remains principally concerned with the wellbeing of Maori women and their whānau.
This link will take you to the Maori Women’s Welfare League website.
Dame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE, kuia and leader, worked for many years for the rights of Māori, and particularly to improve the lot of Māori women.
The 1975 Māori Land March expressed deep unrest over ongoing loss of Māori land. Led by 79-year-old Dame Whina Cooper, the protest march began in the far north town of Te Hāpua on 14 September 1975 with about 50 marchers and gained 60,000 signatures, and an estimated 5,000 marchers by the time it was presented it to Prime Minister Bill Rowling on the steps of Parliament in Wellington a month later on 13 October 1975.
