Polynesian Panthers honour Miriama Rauhihi Ness for dedicating her life to fight for Māori rights stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Miriama Rauhihi Ness (second from right) with other Polynesian Panther sisters
Photo: facebook
Miriama Rauhihi Ness was a member of the Polynesian Panthers and Ngā Tamatoa movements, fighting for both Māori and Pasifika rights in New Zealand.
Will Ilolahia, a founding member of the Polynesian Panthers, said Rauhihi Ness was always on the frontlines of indigenous activism. She was our Minister of Culture and our first full-time community worker when we existed back in the 70s. Her fierce, strong, no-muck-around attitude has done a lot of things that a lot of people don t really acknowledge.
Rauhihi Ness, Ngāti Whakatere / Ngāti Taki Hiki, helped lodge the Māori Language Petition of 1972, led the 1975 Land March and was part of the Patu Squad that protested the 1985 Springbok tour.