First Maori Miss New Zealand dies at 82

Published: November 17, 2017 9:22AM

beauty queen: The first Maori woman to win Miss New Zealand, Moana Whaanga (nee Manley) only entered the 1954 pageant o raise money for her swimming club. She died in Auckland this week. Picture supplied MOANA Whaanga, the first Maori woman to be crowned Miss New Zealand and the first Kiwi to compete at Miss Universe, died last night. She was 82. Mrs Whaanga had strong links to this region after she married Maui Whaanga from Nuhaka.

Mrs Whaanga (nee Manley), moved from Rotorua to Auckland as a child, and she was a champion swimmer selected for the Commonwealth Games.

She entered the 1954 Miss New Zealand pageant to help raise money for her swimming club and was surprised when she was crowned the winner.

“I was a very shy girl. The only thing that I had going for me what that I was a swimmer, and that took a lot of the shyness away. I remember this time being very special,” she told Mana magazine in 2016.

The Maori world was so proud of having their first beauty queen that many groups organised a huge fundraising drive to send Mrs Whaanga to the 1954 Miss Universe contest in California.

In Rotorua, the people of Te Arawa, led by Guide Rangi, dug deep into their pockets to support Mrs Whaanga’s bid.

She married Maui Whaanga, from Nuhaka, and the couple spent many years teaching together at rural schools.

She was a loving mother to Moana Iti, Moerangi, Mark, Mel and Mia. She had 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mrs Whaanga was surrounded by whanau when she died after suffering a stroke a week ago.

“Mum was a private person. She loved her whanau, she loved New Zealand. You could ask if she was a Maori first, or a Kiwi first or a mother first. Mum encompassed all roles and brought everyone together. That is her legacy,” Mel said.

A service for Mrs Whaanga will be held tomorrow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel, 19 Redoubt Road, Manukau.

— Rotorua Daily Post

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