We Remember The Life And Impact Of The Late Aunty June

“We must respect and trust each other. We must protect one another. We must strive for the upholding of the dignity, humility, integrity and credibility of the individuals that make up this whānau and indeed the whānau itself”. – Dame June Mariu 1999.

Unflappable, glamorous and a great rangatira have been some of the many tributes for our founding Chairperson Dame June Mariu who was farewelled this week and laid to rest at Te Rua o Tamakorito urupā.

Dame June Mariu led an extraordinary fulfilling life both as a leader, a sportswoman, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and an influential advocate who dedicated her time as a servant of the people in our communities.

Born in Wharekahika and raised at Cape Runaway, Aunty June did her schooling at Queen Victoria School for Māori Girls in Auckland before attending Teachers College. And, she was a naturally competitive sportswoman.

Dame June Mariu holds a unique place in Aotearoa Sporting History. A talented Māori sportswoman who represented New Zealand in two sporting codes, netball and basketball and a North Island representative in softball. Dame June was in the Auckland netball team from 1951 to 1960 when she was selected for the Silver Ferns before becoming the fifth captain. Dame June then became the first winning Silver Ferns captain when they beat Australia in Brisbane.

Dame June met and married Joe Mariu before they settled in Te Atatu raising their two daughters while she started teaching health and sport at Rutherford High School. One day the school principal asked if she would teach Māori as it was needed on their curriculum and Dame June was the only Māori staff member. Despite admitting her own te reo wasn’t very good, she taught Māori to the students using Te Rangatahi, a book written by her uncle Hoani Waititi.

Te Whānau o Waipareira

Dame June was a strong community advocate supporting displaced Māori as they adjusted to urbanisation. In the mid 1960's she was part of the newly formed Māori Committee under the Māori Community Development Act 1961. These committees were locality based or faith based and the Māori Women's Welfare League also provided foundation organisation.

In February 1982 the Tohu was designed by May Collins. The whakatauki; Kokiritia i Roto i Te Kotahitanga, 'Progressively Act In Unity' was determined by Dame June Mariu, Tuini Hakaraia, Ossie Peri, Craven Tane and Don Rameka. The West Auckland Management Group was formed during a public hui at Hoani Waititi Marae with June Mariu as the Chair. Ossie Peri and Jerry Taingahue were named joint vice chairs. On June 17 of that year that group became Te Whānau o Waipareira.

Dame June Mariu was the first Chair of Waipareira from 1982 to 1984 and then again in 1995 to 2000.

From 1987 – 1990 Dame June was the National President of the Women’s Māori Welfare League and President of the Te Atatu Branch for 15 years; a member of the Māori Women’s Development Inc; appointed to Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission in 2000 and she became the first patron of Hāpai Te Hauora in 2014 by King Tūheitia. She also found the time to coach netball and was a Silver Ferns selector.

Known as one of the pillars of the Waitakere community, fondly known at Rutherford High School as “Mrs M”, Dame June made a significant and lasting difference through her leadership and advocacy. And to top it off, over the years Dame June had taken in around 30 foster kids.

Dame June Mariu carved out immense accomplishments in her incredible 92 years. We will always remember her as our founding Pou and our thanks will resonate through our continued work supporting whānau here at Te Whānau o Waipareira.

“Regardless of what critics or courts may decree, we will be there in support of our whānau, ‘as we were yesterday, as we are today and as we will be tomorrow’”. Dame June Mariu 1999