Grace Turuwhenua cares for her granddaughters Eden, 13 (left), Raiha, 10, and their two sisters. Photo / Richard Robinson
Social commentator Christopher Lasch once said "the family is a haven in a heartless world". Grace Turuwhenua and her story of selflessness and dedication to family in times of hardship seem proof of this.
Mrs Turuwhenua was widowed in 1992 when her husband died of a heart attack.
In 1994 her sister died of breast cancer and two years later her father passed away from leukaemia.
In 2000, her 29-year-old daughter died from a heart attack, leaving four young girls motherless, and shortly afterwards her mother suffered a stroke and a heart attack.
Abandoning her life in Auckland, Mrs Turuwhenua moved to Whangarei to look after the girls and her mother, and worked full time as an administrator at Tikipunga High School to support them.
Friend Naphelia Brown says Mrs Turuwhenua has worked hard to bring up the girls and has supported them in their education, sports and kapa haka.
"Grace has led by example in giving them a life with morals and values. She could be doing whatever she wants but she has given her mokopuna the best life she can give them and that is to provide them with support, encouragement and a loving home."
Eight years after their mother's death, the girls are doing well. Eldest Adelle is completing her bachelor of communications degree at AUT and wants to produce Maori media. Noelle and Eden are doing well at Tikipunga High School and Raiha is in her last year at Tikipunga Primary.
Mrs Turuwhenua says she doesn't deserve praise. "I don't think anything of it," she said. "Our family looks after each other. It's just part of who we are."
