28 September 2006
MPs praise MWWL for 54 years of achievement
Government MPs have congratulated the Māori Women's Welfare League on 54 years of working to improve the position of
Māori women in New Zealand society, as it begins its annual conference at Turangawaewae Marae today.
Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, who will officially open the conference tomorrow (Friday 29), said that thanks
to organisations such as the League, Māori were achieving better in education, health and employment.
"We Māori need to build on these gains in order to realise our full potential. Maori women, as always, will be at the
forefront of initiatives that will shift us from dependency to development," Parekura Horomia said.
"We wish the League all the best for its conference and are confident it will continue to enhance the position of Māori
women and their whanāu."
Women's Affairs and Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel said the League had had a major influence on the growing success of
Māori women in business and leadership.
"The emergence of a new generation of Māori women as entrepreneurs and leaders is something the League can take real
pride in," Lianne Dalziel said.
"One cannot think about the League without remembering the many wonderful personalities who have led and supported the
movement. We particularly remember the late Maori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Atairangikaahu, who passed away recently and
was a staunch patron."
Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta said that the League was originally set up to deal with social problems arising from post-War
urbanisation of Māori, and had grown into one which now contributed strongly to the political, social and economic
advancement of women and their whanau.
"The League arose out of a desire on the part of Māori women for an organisation that would essentially be theirs, and
it has been is a potent force in realising their development aspirations and establishing priorities that advance the
cause of Maori in Aotearoa/New Zealand," Nanaia Mahuta said.
ENDS