Mitzi Nairn
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1942
Mitzi Nairn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Frances Nairn 1942 |
| Died | December 17, 2023 (aged 80–81) |
| Known for | Women's rights and anti-racist activism |
Elizabeth Frances (Mitzi) Nairn (1942–2023) was a feminist and an anti-racist activist in New Zealand.[1] She was a founding member of Auckland Committee on Racism and Discrimination (ACORD) and Tāmaki Treaty Workers, and part of setting up Project Waitangi/Network Waitangi.[2][3]
Community contributions
She started being active in anti-racism activism in New Zealand in the 1960s.[8] Nairn was part of the Student Christian Movement in New Zealand which according to Nairn involved discussions about social change and revolution including South American liberation struggles.[9] She was a Christian feminist, and she and others started a magazine in 1978 called Vashti's Voice that supported a 'national feminist spirituality network'.[10] Nairn became the Director of Programme on Racism of the Conference of Churches in Aotearoa NZ, (formerly the National Council of Churches).[9][11]
Nairn was a founding member of the Auckland Committee on Racism and Discrimination (ACORD), a non-Māori group working with Māori which started in the early 1970s.[12][2] Nairn attended Te Reo Mihi marae, Te Hāpua in 1977 along with other members.[12][page needed] She was a founding member of Tāmaki Tiriti Workers.[13][self-published source?]
In 2010 Nairn recorded a series of interviews with Jen Margaret about social justice and liberation.[14]
Nairn has taught many Treaty of Waitangi workshops across New Zealand.[13]
Nairn was a speaker at a rally supporting Māori fishing rights under the Treaty of Waitangi organised by Halt All Racist Tours (HART), ACORD, Pākehā coalition against racism (PCAR) and others. Other speakers were Peter Turei, Milton Hohaia, Waatara Black and Archdeacon John Mullane.[15] In the early 1990s Nairn outlined thinking and methodology of Paulo Freire as a strong influence amongst herself and other activists.[9]
In 2011 Nairn said... "there is hope for Pākehā like me that this country could be a place to be proud of - for its social policies, its inclusiveness, its biodiversity and conservation, its research and development, and its thriving economy, all under Te Tiriti o Waitangi."[4]
As an influence on others Catherine Delahunty described her as "a great teacher and Pākehā anti-racism pioneer" (2021).[16]
Death
Nairn died on Sunday, 17 December 2023.[17]