Pride of NZ: 'If it weren't for Matamaru ... we could've lost family'

Matamaru Rere

Bravery & Heroism category: As smoke filled the house and a fire in the kitchen rapidly began to spread, Matamaru Rere ran towards the screams of her young son, niece and nephew.

Miss Rere had been at the back of her family's house in Porirua one afternoon last month when her mother began calling for help.

"Mum had been cooking food in the oven and the phone rang and she forgot about what was in the oven."

By the time Miss Rere, 21, had reached the front of the house, smoke had filled the whole living area as the blaze began spreading rapidly throughout the kitchen, dining area and living room.

"I tried to ring the fire brigade but the phone had stopped working. I just ran to the kids. They were crying because they didn't know what was happening and there was smoke everywhere."

Miss Rere's 2-year-old son, Jimmy, 2-year-old niece Maiana and 1-year-old nephew Elijah had been sleeping in the living room at the time.

She had to take each child outside, into the carport, one at a time.

"Mum was panicking because she couldn't really breathe. I just got the kids out and helped mum and called the fire brigade from my cellphone."

Neighbours quickly gathered outside to help the family, as they waited for emergency services to arrive. The kitchen and living area were gutted.

The family have only moved into a new home this week.

Miss Rere - a student at the Whitireia Community Polytech - said she was in "no way" a hero and admitted she was sick of people calling her that.

But her nominator said the family were hugely grateful for her actions.

"If it weren't for Matamaru ... we could've lost family members through a tragic death. She is our hero who had no time to panic."

For more coverage of the awards, go here or to nominate someone, go to the Pride of New Zealand Awards website.