League Notes

Tu Tangata, Issue 4, 1 February 1982, Page 34

League Notes

HE KUPU WHAKAMIHI/Profile

Stretch out a hand to help your neighbour, regardless of race or creed the personal belief of Mrs Martha Moon of Kaikohe.

Over the years Mrs Moon has led by example with her work in welfare and in caring for the homeless, being recognized in the Queen’s Service Medal.

When a child has been left without a parent or guardian and has nowhere to go, Mrs Moon’s door is always open. “I started many years ago with three foster children. Before we knew where we were we were overloaded with young people in need of a home” says Mrs Moon.

The young people she took into her home were treated on an equal footing with her own eight children and the home functioned as a family unit. “I don’t want to see kids walking the streets. Rather than this to happen I’ll take them into my home any time, my door is always open .”

Mrs Moon says the rewards came when young people who had been cared for returned to the family home and still managed to refer to her as Mum. She says she wouldn’t have been able to do the welfare work without the support and understanding of her late husband and her own children.

Mrs Moon has been active in the Maori Women’s Welfare League since 1953, was involved in the nursing division of St John Ambulance from 1966 to 1976, she’s been a Maori Warden since 1976, and an honorary social worker for the past two years.

For many years she has been active in Maori cultural groups and was involved extensively in the fimd raising and planning surrounding the rebuilding of the meeting house on the Oromahoe Marae.

1981 has been a year of travel for members of the Heretaunga DC, and the Flaxmere Independent Branch. May and Dan Wakefield, Mina Bruche and Tauriri Hawea, travelled on a cultural tour with the Tamatea Club to Hawaii and North America. Marj Joe, Lil Robin and Hana Cotta went on a Labour Missionary Association visit to Hawaii, and Salt Lake City.

The book on the Biography of Reremoana Hakiwai, written by Ruth Flashoff will be launched soon. Mrs Hakiwai, was a member and Patroness of the Waipatu/Karamu branch, and a Whaea o te Motu member. The finance received from the book sales will be used for educational purposes as directed by the trustees.

Public Speaking examinations these were sat by Marj Joe, Peri Cherrington, Hilda Nathan, Bessie Manaena, May Wakefield, Tahiti Rangiihu and Ellen Matthews. The tutor was Wendy Doole and the examiner was Miss Heather Salmon.

Paul Randall, mokopuna of Hana Coota was awarded the Queen Scout award earlier this year and is to receive the Duke of Edinborough Award soon.

Obrana Huata and Neal Campbell from the Hastings Boys High School, competed for the Korimako speech contest at St Stephens. Tu Tangata Whanau assisted in the funding of their travel.

Heretaunga A and P Show members are involved in the flaxweaving for display and sale. There will be demonstrations and teaching for those who want to learn.

More commonly known in the far north as ‘Aunty Nicky’, Mrs Edwards has spent a lifetime in community work and recently received the Queen’s Service Medal.

She’s been an active member of the Maori Women’s Welfare League for the past 20 years including many years as Mangakahia branch president.

She was a member of the Whangarei Marae Committee for about 20 years and has also been a member of several other marae committees.

Fund raising is one of her key interests and she has helped raise funds for many ventures, including live-ins at the Poroti Marae where youngsters have been able to taste the old Maori way of life.

Mrs Edwards says “we still have live-ins at the marae about twice a month.” Her deep love of children has helped many youngsters and sometimes she has cared for up to four children at a time.

She says her and her husband are not rich because it’s attitude and not money that counts when raising children. “I love them and they all love me,” she says. “To me it’s just that I like to help if I can”.

She also praises all those who’ve helped her help others over the years.