Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan

Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan was a New Zealand Māori politician who represented the Southern Māori electorate for nearly three decades. She became the country’s first Māori woman cabinet minister and used her parliamentary career to advocate for Māori interests, including the recognition and teaching of te reo Māori. An accomplished academic, social worker, designer and sportswoman, she also helped demonstrate that political leadership and parenthood could be combined.