Mihi Kotukutuku Stirling

Mihi Kotukutuku Stirling
Mihi Kōtukutuku Stirling
Born	Mihi Kōtukutuku 1870 Bay of Plenty Region
Died	1956
Nationality	New Zealand

Mihi Kōtukutuku Stirling (1870–1956) was a notable New Zealand tribal leader of Māori descent. She identified with the Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui iwi. She used the Maori offensive gesture of whakapohane to establish her right to speak in public despite the objections of men.

Stirling was born in Pohaturoa, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in 1870. Because she was from Maori aristocracy she was allowed to talk publicly which was a right usually reserved for men. She had to suffer some criticism for exercising her right.

Her son recounted how she established this right. She stood at the sacred area known as the marae and the chief of the Te Arawa, Mita Taupopoki, objected. He told her that she must get off his marae as she was a woman. She stood her ground and when he had finished his objections she defended her position. She said that she was descended from a prior born ancestor than the chief. She was not on his marae, she was on her marae. She insulted him by exposing her genitals telling the chief that that was where he came from. Those assembled were asked to gainsay her speech but no one came forward. Exposing your genitals is a Maori gesture known as whakapohane and this countered the insult that was aimed at her.

She worked for her community and as a reward she was presented to the Queen when she visited New Zealand. She died at the age of 87 and was survived by her husband who was then 90.