Maraenui’s Minnie Ratima changed the lives of many.
A warranted Maori warden, it was their guiding principle “Aroha ki te tangata” – for the love of the people – that drove Minnie in her tireless work for the betterment of whanau, community, her city and the nation as a whole.
When I first met Minnie ten years ago I was struggling as a ward councillor to engage with the people of Maraenui. Minnie opened doors for me in a part of town where everyone was deeply connected, but where city councillors were regarded with suspicion and distrust. Minnie became my friend, my fellow foot soldier and my bodyguard.
Minnie was Maraenui’s housing Queen. She knew how to help families get housing. She marched on Parliament, wrote and presented submissions, even housed the homeless herself. Unstoppable when it came to fighting for Maraenui, Minnie played a key role in establishing the first Koha shed, the Mokonui community gardens, the establishment of Tu Tangata Maraenui Trust, the Nanny Brigade.
She set up a drop-in space for P addicts. She lobbied for a Liquor Ban for the shopping centre and more recently wrote a powerful submission, as a former gambler, supporting the closure of Maraenui’s only pokies establishment.
Minnie was not the result of societal success, but its opposite. Her ability to overcome hurdles many of us could never imagine made her achievements more remarkable.
Rest in peace, moe mai ra Minnie. Our world is richer for having had you in it.
26 July 1964 – 9 August 2020
Kia Ora Aunty Minnie birthdate is wrong.
26/07/1964
Very sorry. Now corrected.
Late Minnie Ratima will be thrilled we are sharing with Judge Àndrew Beecroft as Commissioner For Children and with Hon.Tracey Martin, Minister For Children, “Ahuriri Napier is not yet too large a City to look after it’s own Children with Ahuriri Napier Oranga Tamariki.”
The present top down ‘Community’ Model has no hope in assisting to unify our Ñapier Pilot City. “A City’ designated in 1986 by the Hon Anne.Hercus, Minister for Police and Social Welfare, to look for alternatives towards violence,”
Ahuriri Napier,at long last has an outstanding Ahuriri Napier, Pilot City Mayor, with Cr. kirstenwise@napier.govt.nz
She was an extraordinarily inspiring woman.
Minnie was a people’s, people and worked tirelessly advocating on their behalf. She was a friend to many around the motu and will be greatly missed. Moe mai ra e hoa.
Thank you Maxine – beautifully expressed…. What a precious soul!
Rest in Love Beautiful Lady xo