Meri Te Tai MangakÃÂhia (22 May 1868 â 10 October 1920) was a campaigner for women's suffrage in New Zealand.
MangakÃÂhia was born Meri Te Tai in Lower Waihou near Panguru in the Hokianga valley. A member of the Te Rarawa iwi, she was of NgÃÂti Te RÃÂinga, NgÃÂti Manawa and Te Kaitutae origin, and was the daughter of Re Te Tai, an influential chief. MangakÃÂhia was educated at St Mary's Convent in Auckland. She was an accomplished pianist.
MangakÃÂhia was the third wife of HÃÂmiora MangakÃÂhia, an assessor in the Native Land Court, and in June 1892 he was elected Premier of the Kotahitanga Parliament in Hawke's Bay.
In 1893, MangakÃÂhia was involved in establishing NgÃÂ KÃ Âmiti WÃÂhine, committees associated with the Kotahitanga Parliament.
Also in 1893, MangakÃÂhia accompanied wÃÂhine rangatira (leader of chiefly status) ÃÂkenehi TÃ Âmoana to present a motion at the Te Kotahitanga MÃÂori parliament in favour of women being allowed to vote for, and stand as, members of the Parliament. MangakÃÂhia was asked to speak to her motion, and in doing so became the first woman to speak to Te Kotahitanga. MangakÃÂhia's argument was that MÃÂori women had always traditionally been landowners, but under Colonial law they were losing this land. She felt that MÃÂori men weren't progressing to resolve land disputes with the Crown, and that Queen Victoria might respond better to requests from other women. She noted that MÃÂori women were landowners, and should not be barred from political representation. In 1897, MangakÃÂhia's dreams were realised when women won the right to vote in Te Kotahitanga elections.
She later joined the women's committee of the Kotahitanga movement, committees which were early forerunners of the MÃÂori Women's Welfare League, and remaining involved in MÃÂori politics and welfare movements. She started Te Reiri Karamu (The Ladies' Column) with Niniwa I te Rangi of Wairarapa. This collection of articles and letters was a place where MÃÂori women raised and debated women's issues.
She died of influenza at Panguru on 10 October 1920 according to family members, and was buried at Pureirei cemetery, Lower Waihou, near her father. She had four children â two sons, Mohi and Waipapa, and two daughters, Whangapoua Tangiora Edith and nurse Mabel Te Aowhaitini.