Miriam Soljak

Who was Miriam Soljak?

Miriam Soljak was a pioneering New Zealand feminist, communist, unemployed rights activist and supporter of family planning efforts.

Born Miriam Bridelia Cummings in Hastings in 1879, Miriam was the daughter of Matthew Cummings and Annie Cunningham. She became a student teacher in 1896, initially teaching at New Plymouth Central School and Kauaeranga School, Thames. In 1898, she moved to Northland, where she taught at Taumarere Native School and Pukaru School. While living there, she married Peter Soljak, a Dalmatian gumdigger, in 1908, and developed close ties to Ngāpuhi Maori communities in that area. Peter and Miriam moved to Kawakaura in 1912, before they moved to Tauranga. At that point, Miriam had to give up teaching, given the birth of her fourth child. Altogether, Peter and Miriam went on to have seven children.