As chief, Stirling took an active role in preserving tikanga Māori. She was one of the few women of her generation in the district who had the right to speak on marae. This right was from time to time challenged by male leaders, most famously the Te Arawa chief Mita Taupopoki, who told her to get off "his" marae. She stood her ground and when he had finished his objections she defended her position. She recited her , showing that she was descended from a lineage senior to his. She was not on his marae, she was on her marae. She insulted him by exposing her genitals, telling the chief that that was where he came from. Those assembled were asked to gainsay her speech but no one came forward. Exposing your genitals is a Maori gesture known as and this countered the insult that was aimed at her.
