This life history of eight Maori women is the first book in which different Maori women speak in their own words about the changing circumstances of their lives. All were brought up in small rural communities in the eastern part of the North Island of New Zealand--communities associated with the Ringatu faith, a Maori religious movement founded in the late 19th century. This book examines the roles traditionally played by women in Maori society and the experiences that the eight women have in common, while allowing each woman's unique expectations and personal voice to emerge.