Of Dalmatian and Màori descent, Miraka Szaszy was fostered by Pàkehà parents after the premature death of her mother. She trained as a teacher, and in 1945 became the first Màori woman to graduate from the University of New Zealand, with a BA in Education. She also earned a Diploma in Social Science from the University of Hawaii. She taught in schools, worked as a Màori welfare officer, directed community education at an innovative secondary school, and lectured at a Teachers’ Training College.

A key figure in the Màori Women’s Welfare League from its inception, she held senior positions which enabled her to challenge sexism within traditional Màori society, strongly asserting that Màori will move forward only when the position of their women is raised. She gave service to many organisations, including the Màori Education Foundation Trust, the Race Relations Council, Radio New Zealand, and the Màori Fisheries Commission. She was an early advocate of equal pay for women, and was on the advisory committee to establish the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, particularly assisting in setting up its Màori section, Te Ohu Whakatupu. Miraka Szaszy worked tirelessly to advance Màori women by interpreting their needs to the Pàkehà world.