Aere ra Meagan, he wahine ataahua, he wahine toa

It was with great sadness that Tiare Ahuriri representatives joined with the many hundreds of people who last week farewelled National President of the Maori Women's Welfare League Meagan Joe, who passed away on 27 July 2011, after a battle with breast cancer. Tiare Ahuriri members spent some time with Meagan and her whanau as she lay at Pukemokimoki Marae in Napier, the same place where we had celebrated her investiture as National President in 2008 (see earlier blog article). Tiare Ahuriri President Caren Rangi then accompanied our National President Sally Dalhousie to Meagan's funeral service at Waipapa-a-iwi Marae in Mohaka, Northern Hawkes Bay, along with Tania Thomas, Board member YWCA, and Rowena Phair, CEO, Ministry of Women's Affairs. The funeral service was a beautiful celebration of a much loved mother, daughter, nanny, partner, friend and devoted leader of the MWWL. The respect in which Meagan is held by all attending was clear to see, and was strongly reflected in the eulogy provided by current and past members of MWWL. Our love and thoughts are with Meagan's mother Te Maari (a longtime member of the HB branch of PACIFICA), her partner Mereana, and her daughter Sonya and mokopuna . Aere ra Meagan, may you rest in peace.