Mere Broughton

Mary Mereiwa Broughton QSM (née Whakaruru, 24 December 1938 – 31 January 2016), known as Mere Broughton, was a New Zealand Māori language activist and unionist.[1]

Mere Broughton

QSM
Mere Broughton at a TEU in 2015
Born
Mary Mereiwa Whakaruru

(1938-12-24)24 December 1938
Hastings, New Zealand
Died31 January 2016(2016-01-31) (aged 77)
Waitara, New Zealand
Resting placePakaraka Marae
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1978)​

Early life

Of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa and Ngāti Kahungunu descent, she was born on 24 December 1938 in Hastings and raised in Te Teko and Kawerau before training as a nurse and working at Whakatāne Hospital.[1][2][3] On 21 May 1960, she married Anglican priest Ruka Broughton, with whom she raised five children.[4] They divorced in 1978.[5]

Career

In the 1970s and 1980s she worked at Victoria University, co-establishing Te Herenga Waka Marae with her husband, Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, and Wiremu Parker. Also at the university she became active in union affairs, in the Association of University Staff (now the TEU).[1] In 2010, she became the TEU's first life member.[6] Broughton was on the Tekaumārua, the advisory board to the Māori King, Tuheitia Paki.[7] In 2014, she was part of the New Zealand delegation that sent off the canoes of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Hōkūle'a and Hikianalia.

Death

She died on 31 January 2016 at her home in Waitara and was buried at Pakaraka Marae.[8]

Honours

Broughton was recognised with the Civic Honour Award by Hutt City Council in 1999.[1] She was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service in the 2002 New Year Honours.[1][9] In 2009, she received the Tā Kīngi Ihaka Award from Creative New Zealand in recognition of a lifetime contribution to the development and retention of Māori arts and culture.[1][2]

References
  1. "Te Toi Ahurangi". TEU. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. "Renowned Writer Takes Top Māori Award" (Press release). Creative New Zealand. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. "Death search: registration number 2016/3424". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. "Te reo champion Mereiwa Broughton at rest". 2 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. Temara, Pou. "Rangiahuta Alan Herewini Ruka Broughton". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  6. "Maori union leader to receive TEU life membership". Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. "Media Advisory March 31" (Press release). University of Waikato. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. "Mereiwa Broughton". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. "New Year honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
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