Born: 1925 (Raglan, New Zealand)
Died: 1997
Biography:
Tuaiwa Hautai Eva Rickard (née Kereopa; 19 April 1925 – 6 December 1997) rose to prominence as an activist for Māori land rights and for women’s rights within Māoridom. She was born in Raglan, New Zealand.
Eva Rickard became widely known for her tireless advocacy for the return of ancestral lands alongside Raglan harbour to the local tribes and the recognition of Māori mana (power and effectiveness) and culture. Her activism centered around the Raglan golf course, which had been established on a 62-acre block of land that was taken from the Māori owners for the purpose of a military airfield during the Second World War. However, the land was not returned to the Tainui Awhiro people after the war, but instead turned into a public golf course in 1969.
Throughout the 1970s, Rickard launched various campaigns to raise public awareness about Māori land rights. Her most notable action took place in 1978 when she led a group of 19 Māori protesters in occupying the Raglan golf course. This act of civil disobedience gained significant media attention, as it was captured by New Zealand television. Rickard and her fellow protesters were arrested for trespassing on the ninth hole of the golf course.
The court appearances that followed their arrest eventually led to the return of the ancestral land to the local tribes. Once the land was returned, it became a focal point for local job training and employment programs, as well as a catalyst for the Māori sovereignty movement.
Eva Rickard’s impact extended beyond her activism for land rights. She was also an ardent advocate for women’s rights within Māoridom. She challenged traditional Māori protocol by calling for Māori women to speak at official Māori gatherings, including on the marae (Māori meeting grounds). Rickard encouraged other female activists to stand up and have their voices heard, inspiring an entire generation of Māori women to assert their rights and demand recognition.
In addition to her activism, Eva Rickard played a significant role in Māori politics. She founded the Mana Māori Movement, which became the largest wholly Māori political party in New Zealand. The party contested the 2002 New Zealand general election and incorporated the smaller Te Tawharau and Piri Wiri Tua parties. Rickard initially belonged to Mana Motuhake, another Māori political party, but left when it joined the Alliance, a broad left-wing coalition.
Eva Rickard’s dedication to Māori land rights and women’s rights within Māoridom has left a lasting impact on society. Her fearless acts of civil disobedience, her advocacy for the return of ancestral lands, and her push for the recognition of Māori women’s voices have paved the way for greater awareness of indigenous rights and gender equality in New Zealand.