Dame Miraka Szászy DBE JP (née Petricevich; 7 August 1921 – 20 December 2001)[1] was a prominent Māori leader, making significant contributions in education, broadcasting, social welfare and small business development.
Mira Petricevich was the first Māori woman to graduate with a degree from the University of Auckland – Bachelor of Arts, Dip SocSci.
'[6] Like Dame Whina Cooper, Szászy felt keenly the injustice that resulted from some iwi preventing women from speaking upon the marae ātea, despite possessing an eloquence "as good as, if not better than that of the men I listened to.
[10] In the 1978 New Year Honours, Szászy was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community and Māori people.
[12] In 1993, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington in recognition of her contribution to the nation.