Strength in Sisterhood: A Seat at the table with the Māori Women’s Welfare League
This reflection was written by Liz Kaloudau, Operations Manager at Lakes Multicultural Collective, who attended this special gathering as a guest of the Whakatipu Waimaori – Māori Women’s Welfare League. The words below share her personal experience and reflections from a beautiful afternoon of connection, culture, and kaupapa Māori leadership.
Whakatipu Waimaori – Māori Women’s Welfare League Community Kai
📍 Kōhanga Reo Room, Arrowtown
🗓️ Today, 2PM
This afternoon, I had the honour of attending a deeply meaningful community gathering hosted by the Whakatipu Waimaori – Māori Women’s Welfare League (WWML), following their Annual General Meeting. The gathering took place at the welcoming and beautifully prepared Kōhanga Reo Room in Arrowtown, where a generous and lovingly prepared kai (meal/food) was shared with women from across the community.
I attended as a representative of the Lakes Multicultural Collective (LMC), invited by the incredible Whaea Cel Mikaere, President of the Whakatipu Waimaori branch (whaea – a respectful term for an elder woman or female leader). It was a true privilege to be there to tautoko and be part of a special moment of unity and connection.
A Warm Table of Kai and Connection
The atmosphere in the room was one of aroha (love/compassion), openness, and belonging. As we sat to enjoy the kai prepared by the League, the sense of manaakitanga (hospitality, generosity, care for others) was felt by all. It wasn’t just a meal—it was a cultural embrace, a reminder that community is nurtured through shared moments like this.
Among the many familiar and powerful wahine present were:
Gemma Peacock, former Operations Manager of LMC (then The Kiwi Kit Community Trust)
Hana, President of the Korean Association of Queenstown
Marie Day, QLDC Community Partnerships
Sainimere Bulitimai, Secretary for the Queenstown Fijian Community Charitable Trust
The radiant Rapata sisters, Karmela and Maria
Our LMC board member Shyla Hona-Jolley
And the ever-inspiring Gladys Henderson, a true taonga (treasure – often used to describe a cherished person, object, or concept) of the Queenstown community
It was both grounding and uplifting to be surrounded by wahine toa from so many walks of life.
Whanaungatanga – He Kōrero from the Heart
After the kai, we gathered in a circle for whanaungatanga (relationship-building, kinship), creating space to introduce ourselves, share our stories, and reflect on the paths that brought us here.
It was during this time that Whaea Cel spoke words that resonated deeply. She referred to us—those who had come from different lands, cultures, and backgrounds—not as outsiders, but as tauiwi.
Her acknowledgment reminded us that while we may not be tangata whenua (people of the land – Māori as the Indigenous people of Aotearoa), we are not without place. We are here, walking beside, contributing, connecting. To be named tauiwi in such a context carried deep mana (respect, prestige, spiritual power). It made us feel seen, respected, and valued—not just welcomed, but woven in.
A Vision with Purpose
After our kōrero (conversation, discussion), we were invited back into the room to witness a powerful presentation led by Whaea Cel. She reflected on the incredible mahi (work, effort) of the Whakatipu Waimaori branch over the past year—initiatives, partnerships, and community collaborations that demonstrate their unwavering commitment to uplifting whānau (extended family, community) and empowering wahine (women).
Some key highlights included:
Their soon-to-be-finalised Strategic Plan, which identifies key pou (pillars) that will guide their future direction.
Plans to open membership to tauiwi wahine (non-Māori women), honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and fostering greater inclusivity.
Expanding their kaupapa (vision, purpose, guiding principle) to include rangatahi (youth) and husbands, building stronger intergenerational connections.
And perhaps most inspiring of all: their collective “why,” simply and powerfully expressed as:
“I AM.”
Looking Ahead – A Shared Vision for Our Wahine
As Whaea Cel shared during the presentation, the Whakatipu Waimaori Māori Women’s Welfare League is preparing to open its membership to tauiwi, as part of their commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and creating more inclusive spaces for all women in our communities.
This is a powerful and exciting opportunity—one we at Lakes Multicultural Collective would love to tautoko. We are so blessed to hear about this new space and journey they have taken and we are incredibly happy to be able to tautoko this and explore ways LMC can provide to Whakatipu Waimaori MWWL, as they navigate and open this to the wider community
We believe this is not just an invitation—it’s a pathway to uplift, support, and navigate leadership opportunities for Pacific and ethnic women in our communities. By walking alongside MWWL, we can help ensure that tauiwi wahine—particularly those from migrant and Pasifika backgrounds—are encouraged, equipped, and welcomed into these spaces of kaupapa Māori (Māori-led principles and practices) leadership and whanaungatanga.
This is something we are genuinely excited about and committed to supporting.
Grateful to Be Part of the Journey
The manaakitanga, the kōrero, the laughter, and the shared vision reminded me of the beauty that unfolds when cultures come together in mutual respect and purpose.
To Whaea Cel and the wāhine of Whakatipu Waimaori Māori Women’s Welfare League—ngā mihi aroha. Thank you for your leadership, your inclusivity, and for showing us what a thriving, values-driven community looks like.
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.”
My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.
