Interview with Whina Cooper

This interview took place over a number of months to provide material for Michael King to write the biography of Whina Cooper at her request.

Discusses her family background, her father Heremia Te Wake, a Native Land Court assessor and her mother, Kare Pauro Kawatihi. Notes that she was the first child of her father's second marriage. Discusses her father and his attitude to Pakeha,land and mana. Mentions his friend Sir James Carroll and Sir Maui Pomare. Recalls childhood and schooling at Whakarapa Native School and St Joseph's Maori Girls' College in Napier. Describes working in the local store, becoming a teacher trainee at the Pawarenga Native School and then housekeeper at the Catholic presbytery. Recalls considering becoming a nun but changing her mind over a nun's treatment of a child.

Talks about her role in fighting for the preservation of the Whakarapa mudflats, being drained by a Pakeha farmer, at the age of eighteen. Describes her interest in land surveyor Richard Gilbert, marriage to him in 1917, living at her parents' home and the birth of a daughter. Describes both parents' deaths and the need for her young family to move. Recalls living on family land at Te Karaka, the birth of another child and assistance from a priest to buy Heremia Te Wake's home and farm and the local store. Describes paying off the loan and building a new shop, post office, community centre and health clinic while husband Richard Gilbert ran the farm and later bought a second farm. Mentions becoming president of a Panguru branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and her role in land development in the Hokianga. Comments on Sir Apirana Ngata and legislation enabling Maori to borrow money to clear, drain, grass and fence land. Mentions the establishment of a programme dividing the Hokianga into development schemes and her supervision of the Panguru and Waihou schemes. Talks about the role of senior land consolidation officer William Cooper and the growth of her relationship with him. Talks about the death of husband Richard Gilbert and her intention to marry William Cooper on his divorce. Comments on reaction to this, moving to Kamo with William Cooper and having four more children. Recalls her fund-raising efforts during the war.

Describes the return to Panguru of Whina and Bill Cooper after their marriage. Mentions the attempt to organise the building of a meeting house in Panguru. Talks about the death of husband Bill Cooper and going to Auckland. Discusses the beginning of the Maori Women's Welfare League (MWWL) in 1951, her election as President and travelling the country to establish branches. Discusses the work of the League and her role in it. Talks about the establishment of an Auckland urban marae, Te Unga Waka, in 1966. Talks about her health and attitude to medicines. Discusses her involvement in leading the Maori Land March in 1975 and the organisation Te Ropu o te Matakite.

Talks about Kupe's discovery of Hokianga harbour. Discusses Father Becker, Archbishop Liston and other Catholic clergy. Talks about custom, carvings and fishing.

Interviewer(s) - Michael King

Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 5 C90 cassette(s). 1 interview(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Alternative form available: A digital copy of most of the recording is available is availabel in the Reading Room (tape three is not digitized). Listening copies are available at OHLC-005113 to OHLC-005122.