Kia whakawāhine au i ahau: Redefining the ‘Angry Māori Woman’: Exploring the pūrākau of Wāhine Māori in leadership
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Authors
Farnham, Irene Eva
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)
Grantor
Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Date
2025
Supervisors
Smith, Hinekura
Rangiwai, Byron
Rangiwai, Byron
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Aotearoa
New Zealand
Māori women
women
Māori leadership
leadership
women in politics
sex discrimination against women
identity (psychology) in women
racism
postcolonialism
oral tradition
narrative inquiry (research method)
New Zealand
Māori women
women
Māori leadership
leadership
women in politics
sex discrimination against women
identity (psychology) in women
racism
postcolonialism
oral tradition
narrative inquiry (research method)
Citation
Farnham, I.E. (2025). Kia whakawāhine au i ahau: Redefining the ‘Angry Māori Woman’: Exploring the pūrākau of Wāhine Māori in leadership (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)). Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6819
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION
How do 6 wāhine Māori maintain their hauora and redefine the ‘Angry Māori Woman’ persona through their Māori focussed social justice leadership?
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores how six Māori women leaders redefine the stereotype of the ‘Angry Māori Woman’ through their dedication to social justice and maintenance of personal and cultural well-being. Using Kaupapa Māori methodology (Smith, 2021), Mana Wahine theory (Pihama, 2001), and Pūrākau narrative inquiry (Lee, 2009), this study documents the lived experiences of these women as they navigate leadership roles in non-Māori, often Euro-centric, environments. Addresses the intersecting impacts of colonisation, racism, and patriarchy on Māori women in leadership positions, this research examines how historical and modern-day challenges shape perceptions of Māori womanhood and leadership. By analysing their narratives, this study highlights the strategies they employ to balance well-being, cultural obligations, professional demands, and navigate the stereotypes imposed upon them.
Using thematic analysis, four primary themes emerged from one-on-one interviews with five Māori women: mana tangata (leadership), te riri (anger), te riri ā-tātāmi (colonial oppression), and tukuna kia ora (releasing burdens). Each theme reveals the complexities of sustaining authentic Māori woman identities within predominantly non-Māori environments. The findings reveal that these women actively reclaim or reject perceptions of anger and leadership, reframing anger as a constructive tool for advocacy, resilience, and compassion. They challenge colonial narratives while encapsulating the cultural ethics of aroha, manaakitanga, and whānau to inform their leadership and counteract stereotypes.
This research contributes to the limited literature documenting Māori women in leadership and offers a framework that validates the experiences of Māori women while providing tools for others facing similar challenges. It underscores the resilience and adaptability of Māori women leaders and their role in advancing social justice, promoting Māori rights, and enriching New Zealand’s social and cultural landscape.
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