Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts | |
---|---|
![]() Reriti-Crofts in 2020 | |
13th President of the Māori Women's Welfare League | |
In office 1990–1993 | |
Preceded by | June Mariu |
Succeeded by | Areta Koopu |
Personal details | |
Born | Aroha Hōhipera Crofts 28 August 1938 Tuahiwi, New Zealand |
Died | 20 May 2022 Christchurch, New Zealand | (aged 83)
Political party | Māori Party |
Spouse | Peter Reriti |
Children | 4 |
Dame Aroha Hōhipera Reriti-Crofts DNZM CBE JP (née Crofts; 28 August 1938 – 20 May 2022) was a New Zealand community worker who was national president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. [1] [2]
Reriti-Crofts was born Aroha Hōhipera Crofts at Tuahiwi on 28 August 1938, the daughter of Metapere Ngawini Crofts (née Barrett) and Edward Teoreohua Crofts. [3] Of Māori descent, she affiliated to Ngāi Tahu, and was educated at Te Waipounamu Maori Girls' College in Christchurch. [3] She married Peter Reriti, and the couple had four children. [3]
From 1978 to 1979, Reriti-Crofts returned to study as an adult student at Aranui High School in Christchurch, and went on to complete a teaching diploma at Christchurch Teachers' College in 1983. [3]
Reriti-Crofts died in Christchurch on 20 May 2022, aged 83 years. [4]
From the age of seven, Reriti-Crofts was involved in kapa haka: she was co-tutor of the Māori cultural performance group at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and was head tutor of a similar group at the 1975 New Zealand Games, also held in Christchurch. [3] She set a world endurance record for a poi performance at 30 hours 19 minutes. [3]
Reriti-Crofts joined the Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League in 1968 and served as secretary of the branch in the 1970s. In 1990, she was elected national president. [3] Her involvement in other community organisations included serving as a trustee of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust, the Māori Women’s Development Incorporated, Mana Waitaha Charitable Trust and Maori Reserve Lands: Tuahiwi/North Canterbury, She was a kaiwhakamana of the Department of Corrections and chairperson of Matapopore – Tūāhuriri Rūnanga. [5] She was particularly involved with health initiatives in Māori communities, such as Tamariki Ora (well-child), Rapuora (mobile nursing service), outreach immunisation, flu vaccinations for older people and breastfeeding advocacy. [2]
At the 2014 and 2017 general elections, Reriti-Crofts unsuccessfully contested in the Waimakariri electorate representing the Māori Party. [6] [7]
In 1972, Reriti-Crofts was named as Young Māori Woman of the Year. [3] In 1977, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1993 she received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. [3] [8]
In the 1993 New Year Honours, Reriti-Crofts was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Māori and the community. [1] In 2016, she was a runner-up for the Māori/Pacific Health Volunteer Award from the New Zealand Ministry of Health. [9] In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and the community. [10]
Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts | |
---|---|
![]() Reriti-Crofts in 2020 | |
13th President of the Māori Women's Welfare League | |
In office 1990–1993 | |
Preceded by | June Mariu |
Succeeded by | Areta Koopu |
Personal details | |
Born | Aroha Hōhipera Crofts 28 August 1938 Tuahiwi, New Zealand |
Died | 20 May 2022 Christchurch, New Zealand | (aged 83)
Political party | Māori Party |
Spouse | Peter Reriti |
Children | 4 |
Dame Aroha Hōhipera Reriti-Crofts DNZM CBE JP (née Crofts; 28 August 1938 – 20 May 2022) was a New Zealand community worker who was national president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. [1] [2]
Reriti-Crofts was born Aroha Hōhipera Crofts at Tuahiwi on 28 August 1938, the daughter of Metapere Ngawini Crofts (née Barrett) and Edward Teoreohua Crofts. [3] Of Māori descent, she affiliated to Ngāi Tahu, and was educated at Te Waipounamu Maori Girls' College in Christchurch. [3] She married Peter Reriti, and the couple had four children. [3]
From 1978 to 1979, Reriti-Crofts returned to study as an adult student at Aranui High School in Christchurch, and went on to complete a teaching diploma at Christchurch Teachers' College in 1983. [3]
Reriti-Crofts died in Christchurch on 20 May 2022, aged 83 years. [4]
From the age of seven, Reriti-Crofts was involved in kapa haka: she was co-tutor of the Māori cultural performance group at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and was head tutor of a similar group at the 1975 New Zealand Games, also held in Christchurch. [3] She set a world endurance record for a poi performance at 30 hours 19 minutes. [3]
Reriti-Crofts joined the Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League in 1968 and served as secretary of the branch in the 1970s. In 1990, she was elected national president. [3] Her involvement in other community organisations included serving as a trustee of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust, the Māori Women’s Development Incorporated, Mana Waitaha Charitable Trust and Maori Reserve Lands: Tuahiwi/North Canterbury, She was a kaiwhakamana of the Department of Corrections and chairperson of Matapopore – Tūāhuriri Rūnanga. [5] She was particularly involved with health initiatives in Māori communities, such as Tamariki Ora (well-child), Rapuora (mobile nursing service), outreach immunisation, flu vaccinations for older people and breastfeeding advocacy. [2]
At the 2014 and 2017 general elections, Reriti-Crofts unsuccessfully contested in the Waimakariri electorate representing the Māori Party. [6] [7]
In 1972, Reriti-Crofts was named as Young Māori Woman of the Year. [3] In 1977, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1993 she received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. [3] [8]
In the 1993 New Year Honours, Reriti-Crofts was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Māori and the community. [1] In 2016, she was a runner-up for the Māori/Pacific Health Volunteer Award from the New Zealand Ministry of Health. [9] In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and the community. [10]