Dame Miraka SzászyDBEJP (née Petricevich; 7 August 1921 – 20 December 2001)[1] was a prominent Māori leader, making significant contributions in education, broadcasting, social welfare and small business development.
Mira Petricevich was the first Māori woman to graduate with a degree from the University of Auckland – BA, Dip SocSci. She was then the first Māori woman to win a fellowship to the University of Hawaii. After returning to New Zealand, she joined the Ministry of Maori Affairs as a welfare officer.[2]
In 1951, she was involved in the establishment of the Māori Women's Welfare League (Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora) and was appointed secretary of its first executive.[3] Between 1973 and 1977, Szászy was president of the organisation.[4] In the early 1960s, she represented the League on the board of the Māori Education Foundation.[5]
Alongside campaigning for Māori, Szászy championed the cause of women, recalling how she became aware of 'the oppression of women as well as of Māori when she began working in a government department, and having observed "job discrimination" within the department.'[6] Like Dame Whina Cooper, Szászy felt keenly the injustice that resulted from some iwi preventing women from speaking upon the marae ātea, despite possessing an eloquence "as good as, if not better than that of the men I listened to."[7] Her dedication to achieving equality for Māori women was acknowledged in tributes after her death.[8] The then-Prime Minister, Helen Clark said, "In addition to her role as an advocate and worker for Māoridom, she was a tireless champion on behalf of women, and, in particular, to advance the status of Māori women."[9]
She began her career as a teacher in 1946, and in 1972, became a lecturer in Māori Studies at Auckland Secondary Teachers' Training College (now Auckland College of Education).[10]
Szászy was born in Waihopo, Northland, in 1921, of Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, and Te Aupōuri descent. Her parents were Lovro Petricevich, a Dalmatian gum digger, and Makareta Raharuhi.[15][16]
She married Albert Szászy, an Aucklander of Hungarian heritage in 1956; they had two sons, Philip and Mark.[17]
Death
Szászy died at home in Ngataki, aged 80, in 2001.[18]
Legacy
The Mira Szászy Research Centre was established by the University of Auckland Business School in 1998 in honour of Szászy's achievements; the centre is New Zealand's first dedicated Māori and Pacific research facility in business and economics.[19] The Dame Mira Szászy Māori Alumni Award recognises "outstanding achievement by graduates of the University of Auckland Business School, and excellence in iwi and business endeavours nationwide and internationally."[20] In 2017, Szászy was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words", celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.[21]
^Paisley, Fiona (2009). Glamour in the Pacific: Cultural Internationalism and Race Politics in the Women's Pan-Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN978-0-8248-3342-8.
^Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books. 2014. p. 393. ISBN9780908321537.
^"History - Maori Women's Welfare League". Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^Hunn, J. K. (June 1962). "The Maori Education Foundation". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 71/2 (2): 256–257. JSTOR 20704002.
^Myers, Virginia (1987). Head and Shoulders: Successful New Zealand women Talk to Virginia Myers. Auckland: Penguin Books. pp. 238, 243. ISBN0140092358.
^Fox, Karen (2011). Māori and Aboriginal Women in the Public Eye: Representing Difference, 1950–2000. ANU Press. pp. 168–169. ISBN9781921862618.
^Horomia, Parekura (20 December 2017). "Maoridom is poorer for the loss of two rangatira". The official website of the New Zealand Government. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^Clark, Helen (20 December 2001). "Dame Mira Szaszy". The official website of The New Zealand Government. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^"Obituary – Miraka Szaszy". 20 December 2001. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
^. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^"The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
^Stoffel, H. P. (1986). "Slavische Volksgruppen in Übersee: Ethnika für die Dalmatiner in Neuseeland: P. Brang zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet". Zeitschrift für Slavische Philologie. 45 (2): 265–266. JSTOR 24001995.
^Bozic-Vrbancic, Senka. "Tarara: Croats and Maori in New Zealand". CROWN: Croatian World Network. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^"Obituary: Mira Szaszy". Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^"Mira Szászy Research Centre for Māori and Pacific Economic Development – The University of Auckland". Mira.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
^"Dame Mira Szászy Māori Alumni Award". Retrieved 6 August 2017.
^"Mira Szászy". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
External links
Mira Szászy Research Centre
Dame Mira Szászy Māori Alumni Award
January 07, 2023
mira, szászy, dame, miraka, szászy, née, petricevich, august, 1921, december, 2001, prominent, māori, leader, making, significant, contributions, education, broadcasting, social, welfare, small, business, development, dame, jp7th, president, māori, women, welf. Dame Miraka Szaszy DBE JP nee Petricevich 7 August 1921 20 December 2001 1 was a prominent Maori leader making significant contributions in education broadcasting social welfare and small business development Dame Mira SzaszyDBE JP7th President of the Maori Women s Welfare LeagueIn office 1973 1977Preceded byHine PōtakaSucceeded byErihapeti Rehu MurchiePersonal detailsBornMiraka Petricevich 1921 08 07 7 August 1921Died20 December 2001 2001 12 20 aged 80 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditMira Petricevich was the first Maori woman to graduate with a degree from the University of Auckland BA Dip SocSci She was then the first Maori woman to win a fellowship to the University of Hawaii After returning to New Zealand she joined the Ministry of Maori Affairs as a welfare officer 2 In 1951 she was involved in the establishment of the Maori Women s Welfare League Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora and was appointed secretary of its first executive 3 Between 1973 and 1977 Szaszy was president of the organisation 4 In the early 1960s she represented the League on the board of the Maori Education Foundation 5 Alongside campaigning for Maori Szaszy championed the cause of women recalling how she became aware of the oppression of women as well as of Maori when she began working in a government department and having observed job discrimination within the department 6 Like Dame Whina Cooper Szaszy felt keenly the injustice that resulted from some iwi preventing women from speaking upon the marae atea despite possessing an eloquence as good as if not better than that of the men I listened to 7 Her dedication to achieving equality for Maori women was acknowledged in tributes after her death 8 The then Prime Minister Helen Clark said In addition to her role as an advocate and worker for Maoridom she was a tireless champion on behalf of women and in particular to advance the status of Maori women 9 She began her career as a teacher in 1946 and in 1972 became a lecturer in Maori Studies at Auckland Secondary Teachers Training College now Auckland College of Education 10 In the 1978 New Year Honours Szaszy was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the community and Maori people 11 She was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1990 New Year Honours for services to the community 12 In 1993 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington in recognition of her contribution to the nation 13 Also in 1993 she was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 14 Personal life EditSzaszy was born in Waihopo Northland in 1921 of Ngati Kuri Te Rarawa and Te Aupōuri descent Her parents were Lovro Petricevich a Dalmatian gum digger and Makareta Raharuhi 15 16 She married Albert Szaszy an Aucklander of Hungarian heritage in 1956 they had two sons Philip and Mark 17 Death EditSzaszy died at home in Ngataki aged 80 in 2001 18 Legacy EditThe Mira Szaszy Research Centre was established by the University of Auckland Business School in 1998 in honour of Szaszy s achievements the centre is New Zealand s first dedicated Maori and Pacific research facility in business and economics 19 The Dame Mira Szaszy Maori Alumni Award recognises outstanding achievement by graduates of the University of Auckland Business School and excellence in iwi and business endeavours nationwide and internationally 20 In 2017 Szaszy was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Aparangi s 150 women in 150 words celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand 21 References Edit Miraka Szaszy biodata Archived from the original on 20 July 2011 Paisley Fiona 2009 Glamour in the Pacific Cultural Internationalism and Race Politics in the Women s Pan Pacific University of Hawai i Press pp 174 175 ISBN 978 0 8248 3342 8 Tangata Whenua An Illustrated History Wellington Bridget Williams Books 2014 p 393 ISBN 9780908321537 History Maori Women s Welfare League Retrieved 6 August 2017 Hunn J K June 1962 The Maori Education Foundation The Journal of the Polynesian Society 71 2 2 256 257 JSTOR 20704002 Myers Virginia 1987 Head and Shoulders Successful New Zealand women Talk to Virginia Myers Auckland Penguin Books pp 238 243 ISBN 0140092358 Fox Karen 2011 Maori and Aboriginal Women in the Public Eye Representing Difference 1950 2000 ANU Press pp 168 169 ISBN 9781921862618 Horomia Parekura 20 December 2017 Maoridom is poorer for the loss of two rangatira The official website of the New Zealand Government Retrieved 6 August 2017 Clark Helen 20 December 2001 Dame Mira Szaszy The official website of The New Zealand Government Retrieved 6 August 2017 Obituary Miraka Szaszy 20 December 2001 Retrieved 6 August 2016 No 47420 The London Gazette 3rd supplement 31 December 1977 p 42 No 51982 The London Gazette 2nd supplement 30 December 1989 p 30 Honorary graduates and Hunter fellowships Archived from the original on 26 June 2019 Retrieved 6 August 2017 The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 register of recipients Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 26 July 2018 Retrieved 18 September 2018 Stoffel H P 1986 Slavische Volksgruppen in Ubersee Ethnika fur die Dalmatiner in Neuseeland P Brang zum 60 Geburtstag gewidmet Zeitschrift fur Slavische Philologie 45 2 265 266 JSTOR 24001995 Bozic Vrbancic Senka Tarara Croats and Maori in New Zealand CROWN Croatian World Network Retrieved 6 August 2017 Obituary Mira Szaszy Retrieved 6 August 2017 Dame Mira Szaszy Retrieved 6 August 2017 Mira Szaszy Research Centre for Maori and Pacific Economic Development The University of Auckland Mira auckland ac nz Retrieved 3 January 2017 Dame Mira Szaszy Maori Alumni Award Retrieved 6 August 2017 Mira Szaszy Royal Society Te Aparangi Retrieved 11 May 2021 External links EditMira Szaszy Research Centre Dame Mira Szaszy Maori Alumni Award Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mira Szaszy amp oldid 1115533903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
