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The 13 chiefly wahine who signed the Treaty of Waitangi are included in a new exhibition in Wellington to mark the 120th anniversary of women receiving the vote in New Zealand.
Waikato University Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, who co-curated the 'Tirohia Mai, Look at us Now' exhibition with former Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan, says the women provided important context.
She says the colonial era produced exceptional women of courage, vision, and leadership, many of them Māori.
The exhibition includes handwritten letters from two of the women who signed the treaty, Te Rangitopeora of Ngāti Toa, and Kahe Te Rau ō te Rangi of Te Ati Awa , which Professor Te Awekotuku says are remarkable for their sharp political commentary in beautiful cursive script.
Tirohia Mai runs at Te Ahumairangi : The Gallery in the National Library until November.
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