Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): E Te Māngai o Te Whare tēnā koe. E nga mema o Te Whare tēnā tātou. I am really pleased to take a call in this acknowledgment of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage. As the first women to hold the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat formerly known as Eastern Maori it is indeed my honour to take a call in this important debate. Can I acknowledge Kate Sheppard Meri Te Tai Mangakahia and the many other women who sought change who sought participation who sought equality and who sought justice in democratic Aotearoa New Zealand.In my contribution I want to talk about the great women whose shoulders I stand upon. Whatungarongaro he tangata toitū te whenua. As people disappear land remains. It is land and authority that the women I'm about to speak to fought gallantly for for 30 if not 40 years before the signing of the suffrage movement petition in 1893—people like Akeniwa Pātoka Rātima Rerepukapuka Tomoana the wife of the famous Ngāti Kahungunu chief Hēnare Tomoana. In his rendition in the Native Land Court in 1883 he says Through the courage of my wife Ākenehi … the lands have been retained …".Then we go to Arahia Te Nahu of Ngāi Te Rangi Konake who was quoted as saying "I know this land. I have rights of ancestry occupation and cultivation; ancestry through Honomōkai occupation through Te Whatu-i-Āpiti cultivation through Te Hāpuku and Te Moananui." She said this in the Native Land Court in 18 May 1899. Then there's Horiana Te Wharepū of Ngāti Kurukuru who also spoke at the hui wāhine held at Te Haukē in 1895 who said at this hui—she spoke on the motion of selling lands and in the vote at that hui where the Māori women unanimously voted Horiana called these sales of land "the greatest disaster to touch us."Then there's Mārata Te Heuheu also known as Mārata Te Hiria of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who was actively involved in women's institutions—the temperance movement the Land Court issues—in both Heretaunga and Ngāti Tūwharetoa who formed and established Ngā Komiti Wāhine which in 1895 had 35000 members associated with it. Among these women were Akenehi Tomoana Pukepuke Tangiora Horiana Tiakitai Niwa-ki-te-rangi and Meri Mangakahia.Ngā Komiti Wāhine was formed as a response to increasing land sales increasing drunkenness and the declining health of Māori families while women as landowners wanted simply the right to vote. Then Pukepuke Tangiora who encouraged women at the hui at Te Haukē by saying "Other women have chastised the men for their failure to bring about the cessation of land sales; let us the women share our thoughts about these issues."There is another whakataukī that goes "ka pū te ruha ka hao te rangatahi" which means as the old net weathers the others remain. This whakataukī talks about succession. I want to talk about women like Dame Whina Cooper who in 1975 led the land marches to Parliament here to say that not an acre more should be taken away from what was already a dwindling amount of Māori land and of course the famous Eva Rickard who fought gallantly for the return of the Raglan golf course for her people.Then there's this last whakataukī: "Ehara taku toa he takitahi he toa takitini" which means my success is not bestowed on me alone; it's not individual success but success of the collective. I want to acknowledge the fine women MPs in this House on both sides of the House who bring class who bring strength who bring wisdom to the debates that we hear in this House. I honestly hope that that wisdom that strength and that passion for the issues that they represent continue as we forge ahead. There is much work to do and I am proud to be woman MP No. 121 120 years after the signing of the suffragette movement petition. I commend this motion to the House.Motion agreed to."