Rina Moore

Rina Winifred Ropiha was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 6 April 1923. Her mother was Rhoda Walker (Whānau-ā-Apanui) and her father Tipi Tainui Ropiha (Ngāti Kahungungu). Her father was the first Māori to be Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs.[1][2] She entered medical school at the University of Otago in 1943, marrying Ian Moore in 1944 and giving birth to their first child in 1945. She was able to continue her studies with family support and graduated in 1948.[2]

In 1948 Moore began work as an assistant medical officer in Nelson at Ngāwhatu, a psychiatric hospital where she later spent some years as Medical Officer. She took a particular interest in mental health, attempting to break down prejudice about mental illness and strengthen links between hospital care and the community. She was also an advocate for sex education. In the 1960s she set up a Family Advisory Clinic, a private psychiatric and counselling clinic, in her own home.

She also spoke widely on Māori health and mental health presenting a paper to the South Island Conference of Young Māori Leaders held in Christchurch, 19–21 August 1960.[3] In 1972 she wrote four papers for the International Congress on Social Psychiatry in Israel covering urban migration, problems facing Māori and minority races, health and mental health.[2]

She died in Nelson in 1975.

• Ngawhatu Nelson Photo News. No. 12. 14 October 1961. Includes a photo of Dr R.W. Moore admitting a patient.