Mrs Peace Leaves Her Mark

Political activist, peace campaigner and renowned author, Sonja Davies, has died aged 81, leaving an inspiring legacy in her wake. According to her Guardian obituary, Davies – known to many as ‘Mrs Peace’ – ranks alongside Sir Edmund Hillary and Janet Frame as one of NZ’s national treasures. Among other things, Davies was a holder of the Order of NZ, an executive member of the World Peace Council, chaired the NZ committee for the UN international year of peace in 1986, and was an active trade unionist and member of parliament. The Sonja Davies Peace Award, which promotes women’s initiatives and the cause of peace in Aotearoa, was established in 2004 in honour of Davies’ 80th birthday. Her memoir Bread and Roses, which was made into an acclaimed film by Gaylene Preston, is one of the cornerstone stories of NZ’s national identity.