'Such a big heart for our communities'

Makareta Tino has taught te reo and acted as a cultural adviser in West Auckland. Photo / David Kerr

Key role in helping Maori at Trust and marae sees kuia rewarded with nomination.

Makareta Tino (Ngapuhi), known as "Nan" to many in the West Auckland community, has spent a lifetime welcoming and guiding those around her.

Since moving to Auckland with her husband 60 years ago from her home in Kaikohe, Mrs Tino has assumed a multitude of roles - from teaching school children te reo Maori to acting as cultural adviser to the Waipareira Trust and Hoani Waititi Marae, where she is now considered a kuia, or elder.

For her dedication to her community and especially the Maori community, Mrs Tino has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Community Spirit Award.

She has "such a big heart for our communities", said her nominator.

Part of Mrs Tino's role as cultural adviser includes welcoming and settling visitors into marae, homes and to the trust through powhiri.

Despite being involved in similar roles since she was a child, it is still not easy, she said.

"It is a lifetime thing, experience. The elders of the tribe and marae have to recommend you and help you along."

It "entails quite a bit of work" while "using your common sense and respect for everyone there", she said.

Mrs Tino became involved with Hoani Waititi Marae from the time the plans were drawn up.

"My children, my boys, were some of the first boys there to plough the land and set it up for the building of the marae."

She has been the cultural adviser there for more than 30 years and is one of three kuia.

"The old people are how we keep our marae warm - spiritually warm - for all our visitors who come.

"Some are lonely, forlorn, old or overweight ... some have no hopes and that's what we do there, we're there for them."

For many years, Mrs Tino was kaiarahi i te reo, the Maori language teacher at Ranui Primary School.

Although Mrs Tino is shocked by the award nomination, she is proud to be "part and parcel" of Hoani Waititi Marae and Waipareira Trust.

"I'm very, very proud."

The Pride of New Zealand Awards are proudly brought to you by The New Zealand Herald, The Hits and TSB Bank.
Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
To see more stories of our wonderful nominees click here.
For more information on the awards go to the official website.