Print Māori Legends

Whina Cooper led the Māori land march to Parliament in 1975.

Photo: Christian Heinegg. Free use with attribution. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Āpirana Ngata collected and published traditional Māori songs in Ngā Mōteatea.

Photo: Taken by an unidentified photographer.. Public domain. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Te Puea Hērangi helped establish Tūrangawaewae marae at Ngāruawāhia.

Photo: William A Price. Public domain. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Tūheitia was the seventh Māori monarch, serving from 2006 until 2024.

Photo: Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Te Atairangikaahu served as Māori Queen for forty years, from 1966 to 2006.

Photo: Rob Bogaerts for Anefo. CC BY-SA 3.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

James Hēnare supported the kōhanga reo movement to help te reo Māori grow.

Photo: Photographer unknown. Public domain. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Nga wai hono i te po became the eighth Māori monarch in September 2024.

Photo: Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand. CC0 1.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Te Rangi Hīroa trained as a doctor and became a researcher of Pacific cultures.

Photo: Archives New Zealand. CC BY 2.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

In 1893, Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia asked the Māori parliament to give women a political voice.

Photo: FW Mason, photographers, Emerson St, Napier, New Zealand. Public domain. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Ralph Hōtere used painting to explore identity and respond to social issues.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Mākereti Papakura wrote about Māori life and knowledge in The Old-Time Maori.

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. No known copyright restrictions. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Cliff Whiting helped create Te Hono ki Hawaiki, the meeting house at Te Papa.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Ngoi Pēwhairangi wrote the words to Poi E, with music by Dalvanius Prime.

Photo: Gisborne Herald, via Te Ara. Copyright retained by the original rights holder. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Rob Ruha is a songwriter, performer and kapa haka tutor who mentors young Māori artists.

Photo: The Cafe (Archive). CC BY 3.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Hinewehi Mohi co-founded the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, which supports people through music.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Stan Walker performs songs in both English and te reo Māori.

Photo: Champochampo. CC BY-SA 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Kiri Te Kanawa became an internationally celebrated opera singer.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC0 1.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Temuera Morrison has acted in films and television productions in Aotearoa and overseas.

Photo: John Manard. CC BY-SA 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Keisha Castle-Hughes played Pai in Whale Rider and received an Academy Award nomination for the role.

Photo: Sarah Said-1952. CC BY-SA 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Taika Waititi works as a director, writer, actor and visual artist.

Photo: CaseyJNewell. CC BY-SA 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Lisa Reihana creates artworks using film, photography and other media.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Willie Apiata received the Victoria Cross for rescuing a wounded fellow soldier.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Lisa Carrington won eight Olympic gold medals across the London, Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Ian Taylor co-founded Animation Research, a company known for computer graphics and sports animation.

Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General. CC BY 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Ruia Morrison competed at Wimbledon and won many New Zealand tennis titles.

Photo: Archives New Zealand. CC BY 2.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Rangi Mātāmua shares knowledge about Māori astronomy and Matariki.

Photo: Royal Society Te Apārangi. CC BY-SA 4.0. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Kendall Flutey co-founded Banqer, a digital learning platform that helps students learn about money.

Photo: TE KARAKA / Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; photographer uncredited. Copyright retained by the original rights holder. Full sources on pages 41–42.

Karaitiana Taiuru works on artificial intelligence and Māori rights in the digital world.

Photo: Taiuru & Associates Ltd. Used with credit. Full sources on pages 41–42.

In 1949, Iriaka Rātana became the first Māori woman elected to New Zealand Parliament.

Photo: Tesla Studio; Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. Public domain in New Zealand (Commons PD-New Zealand). Full sources on pages 41–42.

Billy T. James entertained audiences as a comedian, musician and actor. The Billy T Award honours emerging comedians.

Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand; EP/1985/3350/26-F. Copyright retained by the original rights holder. Full sources on pages 41–42.