Miraka Norgate has known since the beginning of the year that she was likely to receive a Queen’s Service Medal for her services to the community, but only told her husband a couple of weeks ago.
Helping her community has been simply part of the fabric of life for Miraka who received the award as part of the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours this week. It is not the first time one of her family has received an award – her aunt Violet Harris received a similar award in the past, and also a cousin.
The 69-year-old of Ngā Puhi Nui Tonu descent says it has been immensely rewarding to help others improve their tinana (physical), wairua (spiritual), hinengaro (mental) and whānau (family) well-being over the years.
“It was just a part of life really that I enjoyed. I was brought up with it on our marae and I saw my parents and grandparents helping people and that became part of me.”
Today, she still works for Te Whata Ora-Health New Zealand as a health promoter for Māori and has frequently been the support person over the years for Māori wahine (women) giving birth, having a smear test and medical procedures.
As well as promoting being smokefree, she has been actively promoting breast cancer screening, cervical cancer smear testing, obstetrics and paediatric women’s and children’s health alongside other health initiatives.
“I’m Māori so I can reach out to Māori on any health issue. I’m there to support and walk alongside them when they have procedures.
“I’m very honoured to the mums who have given me their trust,” she says.
For much of her adult life she has lived in Richmond but grew up in the Hokianga in an environment akin to Once Were Warriors, which was the flip side to her family’s focus on the community and helping others.
She chose to break the cycle of violence and carve a new path through life connected with her Catholic faith and using her background to help others look after their own well-being better.
Since the 1980s she has supported all local marae in their establishment phases, chaired the Whakatū Māori Women’s Welfare League, been on the board of trustees for Nelson and Garin Colleges, plus held a host of other governance roles.
Today she serves on the Nelson Cancer Society board as well as being a committee member of the Nelson Bays Primary Health Māori Committee.
When she first came to Te Tau I hu a Te Waka a Māui Te Waiponamu - Top of the South in 1975, Miraka was missing Te Reo Māori mē ōna Tikanga – the language and its cultural practices – as well as whānau (family).
It led her to be instrumental in the establishment of the Waimea Kōhanga Reo in the 1980s and she now serves as Kuia (female elder) for all Kōhanga Reo in the Nelson-Tasman region.
Miraka says she is connected with all seven iwi in the Te Tau Ihu o te Waka a Māui and though she is often supporting others and is nearly 70, she still goes to manu whenua iwi elders for guidance.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, somebody might know more than you or guide you in a different angle.”
Miraka was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community. Nelsonians Derek Shaw and David Haig were also recognised in the honours - both being made members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
