WHINA

New Zealand, 2022, 112 minutes, Colour.

Rena Owen, Vinnie Bennett, Errol Shand, Miriama McDowell, James Rolleston, Tioreore Ngati-Melbourne, Richard Tay Are.

Directed by James Napier Robertson, Paula Whetu Jones.

A fine film from New Zealand. Audiences there would be well aware of Whina (pronounced Feena, her English name, Josephine) Cooper, a pioneer in promotion of Maori land rights. This is her story and the story of the fight for land rights leading to a protest march of many thousands in 1975 from the top of the North Island to Wellington, to present a statement to parliament leading to land rights.

To situate the march to Wellington in 1975, this is 8 years after the referendum on indigenous citizenship in Australia, 1967, but also 18 years before the Mabo decisions.

While there is a focus on the 80-year-old, Whina, as a character, leading the march, remembering her past, and this is dramatically powerful, the bulk of the film is in flashbacks, outlining Whina’s life, her birth and the assumption that she would be a boy, the child of a chief, her strength of character, her life from 18 to 55.

The actresses playing Whina are the best. Veteran Rena Owen (memories of Once Were Warriors and her subsequent New Zealand and international career), brings all her power to the 80-year-old, strong-minded, walking stick because of arthritis, but a look that can challenge, and whose sincerity based on tough experiences.

For the main part of the film, it is the actress Miriama McDowell who carries the character of Whina. It is a very strong and persuasive performance, making an indelible impression on the audience.

Whina is a strong character, a huge influence on those around her, accepting the mantle of the role of the chief, but never afraid of hard work, out in the fields, out in the mud, digging, planning. She is married to Richard, who puzzles about her assertiveness, the tradition that women should not speak out, but should be obedient to their husbands. While he supports his wife, he is also dying of consumption.

The government has sent land auditors to check on how the Maori were administering their land, but also facing the encroachment by colonial farmers, transforming the land, taking the land from the Maori. One of the auditors is William Cooper (Vinnie Bennett) who is impressed by Whina, even as she defies him. There is a momentary affair – with consequences.

One of the interesting features of the film is the place of the Catholic Church with the Maori. The focus is on the parish priest of the village, Fr Mulder (Errol Shand), a missionary among the people, but taking strong stances, especially against the devout Whina, denouncing her when she tells the people that she is pregnant and that William is the father. They have to leave and set up home further away. And the years pass.

Whina is a devout Catholic, traditional pictures of the Sacred Heart in the homes, statues of Mary on the piano, her dismay at Fr Mulder’s stands against her, and a wonderful scene when, in old age, she tells people that she had a dream, was in heaven, saw Jesus, told him that it was time she came to join him and her family, and receiving a very stern “No!” From Jesus who tells her she has to keep working on earth.

In 1940, there were celebrations for the Treaty of Waitangi, and some of the elders asking Whina to participate – in charge of the catering. However, one of the elders asks her, wearing her traditional cape, to participate in a ceremony, rousing a great deal of anger amongst the Maori. Soldiers come in to work with her for the catering and the ceremony is a success.

Eventually, urged on by William, they return home, put their effort into the building of a special meeting place, where women can speak freely – again raising the ire of the citizens, of Fr Mulder, the burning down of the reconstructed meeting place with its range of artwork and traditional totems.

By this stage of the film we are fully engaged with Whina, sharing her ambitions, dismayed at her treatment – and, after the war, her going to the Auckland suburbs in poverty, joining a Maori league and organising it, and confronting Fr Mulder (now a bishop) about his stances, not welcoming the Maori to the church, his apology.

At the end of the film, there are images of the actual Whina – and the information that she was Dame Whina Cooper with a great number of local and Imperial honours. The film offers a fine opportunity for us to get to know her.

1. Audience knowledge of Whina Cooper, Maori, chief, her place in New Zealand history, Maori land rights? The response of a New Zealand audience? International audiences?
2. The film as a biography and portrait, the two actresses portraying Whina, the veteran Renata Owen and her reputation, bringing dignity to the older Whina and her influence, leading the protest march? The younger actress, having to age the decades, strong, demanding, suffering and humiliated, rising to the occasion, to leadership?
3. The indication of dates, the different periods, sets, decor, costumes?
4. The initial focus on the older Whina, the flashbacks, the moving between the different periods? The younger Whina throw light on the older? The older being explained by the life of the younger?
5. 1895, Whina’s birth, expectations of a boy, her position as a chief, in comparison with her younger brother? The respect for her father? The situation of Maoris in the 19^th century, the Treaty of Waitangi? Into the 20^th century, colonials, clearing of the land, taking the land from the Maoris, the confrontations? Whina and her role with the family, expectations, leadership, work on the land, developing it, methods? Whina, Henry her husband, the children, his suffering from consumption, the male expectation that the woman should be subservient to the husband? Whina and her defiance?
6. The audit of the land, William and his arrival, Whina and her hostility, taking him out, his observations, staying at the house, his bonding with the children, Whina’s harsh reaction? Henry’s reaction, illness, the meals? The attraction between the two, the relationship, the consequences, pregnancy, and Henry’s death in the funeral?
7. Fr Mulder, the presence of the missionaries, the Catholic Maoris, going to church, pictures of the Sacred Heart, statues of Mary? The dominance of the priest? His reaction to Whina’s announcement of her pregnancy, his hostility, no confession and absolution, saying it was between herself and God? His denunciation of her? Her return, his denunciation of her in church, of the meeting hall, of the Maori statues in the pagan implications? His leaving, regrets, to Auckland, becoming a bishop, Whina visiting him, challenged him about the Maoris welcomed or not, his asking her forgiveness, her saying it was between him and God?
8. The meeting, Whina announcing her pregnancy, the bond with William, and their decision to leave, settling elsewhere, the years passing, the land, not so successful, the decision to return home?
9. 1940, the centenary of the Treaty, the elders approaching Whina, the invitation for her to do the catering? Accepting, the work, the denunciations and her loss of her staff, Gabriel and the past friendship, his coming with the soldiers to help? The success of the meal? The ceremony, the women warning her off, getting out her robe, wearing it, the older choosing her to go into the meeting place for the ceremony?
10. Whna, devout, Catholic tradition, her story of Jesus in heaven ordering her to go back to earth?
11. The return home, the decision to build the meeting place, Gabriel and the others helping? Father Mulder and the denunciation? In church, nobody supporting Whina? The burning of the building, of the statues, the fire and William’s death?
12. 1950, Whina and the children destitute, going to Auckland, trying to get accommodation, the encounter with the priest and her telling him about the welcome for the poor, his allowing them in? Her inquiries, the Maori League, going to the meetings, speaking out, the women quibbling, Whina giving a strong speech, becoming a leader? The years of social work and consciousness? But the years passing, her being busy, not going to every meeting, the board voting against her?
13. 1975, the situation, Maori rights, the land, the reaction of the younger people? Whina and her status, her age, the past? Her influence, very demanding, the younger people drinking and her sending them off? Or loyalty?
14. The decision about the march, her leadership, the support, the leaders from the past, the next generation, the younger generation? Setting out, acclaim as they passed by, the number of people joining? The use of newsreel footage from the time for authenticity?
15. The racism, the young man and the insults, pushing Whina over, her getting up again? The success of the march, parliament, the hearing of the document presented, the consequences?
16. The photo of the actual Whina at the end, the fact that she was Dame Whina Cooper, the various honours? A tribute to her and to her achievement?