Dame Whina Cooper - Mother Of The Nation

It was a long road of protest for the land rights activist

- Judy Kean

It is one of the most iconic photos in New Zealand history. The 1975 shot, taken by New Zealand Herald photographer Michael Tubberty, shows Dame Whina Cooper and her granddaughter Irenee (then three) setting off hand-in-hand down a dusty road on the start of an 1100 km hikoi. They are taking the first steps on the historic march from the Far North to Wellington to raise awareness of the loss of Maori land.

Then aged 79 and plagued by arthritis, Whina needed a cane to walk, but the photo portrays a determined woman facing a long journey with incredible courage.

Leading the epic walk is what Whina is best remembered for today, but when she set out from Te Hapua, she had already spent over 60 years of her life fighting for Maori rights. She was a powerhouse who got things done, and she spent her life helping others.

Right from the start, young Hohepine (Josephine) showed a determined streak that would make her a force to be reckoned with. Born to chief Heremia Te Wake and Kare Pauro Kawatihi in northern Hokianga in 1895, she was a vivacious child, according to her biographer, the late Michael King.

She was only 16 when her father tried to organise an arranged marriage with a much older widower. Whina refused to be tied down and instead went to work at a local store. She later became a trainee teacher and a housekeeper.