Woman of the Month of November
Our Woman of the Month of November is Mairi Kura Mokoroa-Heather whose contribution to education, sports and community have been recognized by her family, friends and colleagues. Her husband is Robert Stanley Heather and they have four children, Robert Junior, Benjamin, Taua and Heath and they live in Arorangi.
Mairi is a qualified teacher and began with a Diploma in Teaching in 1990, an Advanced Trained Teachers Diploma soon after in 1992 and in 2009, she was awarded her Bachelor in Education degree through the University of South Pacific. Mairi was raised in a large family and as a child, she attended Nikao Maori Primary School and then Tereora College and later on to New Zealand for her teacher’s training. She began teaching at Nikao Primary and later transferred to her current post at Avatea Primary School where she has been appointed lead numeracy educator and works closely with the new principal, Nga Charlie..She is also an executive in the Cook Islands Teachers Institute.
Her friends describe her as a quiet confident young woman who is warm, caring with an excellent rapport with children and adults alike. Integrity, strong belief in fairness and accountability not only serves to the principles of what she does as a teacher but also to the community she serves are among Mairi’s qualities that contribute to her success and achievement for herself and also as a great support to her husband, Robert who was voted in a Mayor of Puaikura from 2005-2006. During that time, Mairi was the Mayoress and assisted with her husband’s official and ceremonial duties. This readiness to take on a variety of leadership roles in the community is evidence of a positive attitude to social commitments and a willingness to take responsibility.
For instance, during the 2009 Pacific Mini Games, she was the team general manger to Cook Islands Touch which became gold and silver medallists in the Games repeating their success in 2007, when she was appointed the Squad Tour Manager to the SPG in Samoa and in 2000, she was the Puaikura rep and manageress for the Cook Islands Games. In fact, our WOM has a long association with Touch football having been a player in 1990, then to representative status and currently as an executive with the Cook Islands Touch Football Association. CITA also host a touch match every Boxing Day which is a very popular event for the whole family and her home team, the T&M Heather Supa Blocks and Crushers Touch Team give the opposition teams a good run for their money.
She has also been involved in netball, volley ball, basket ball, sailing, union and soccer, whether as a player, coach or organiser, and makes seem so easy with her gentle manner which is probably a calming influence on everyone else. She is praised for her sense of fair play, flexibility and calm manner has gained her respect and admiration from those she associates with and describe her as a person who spreads love with a smile or a kind gesture, who acts from the heart and keep in mind the hearts of others.
Early life and Community and Sports Involvement
Her parents are Paiere Mokoroa and Nga Tuaivi Kokaua and they live on the island of Atiu but her mother is from Ngati Arera in Pokoinu. Her parents have been influential in her life and she is well versed in her own culture displaying a natural ability and love for music and dance. She can speak fluent Maori and English and has a good practical knowledge of the other Polynesian languages and cultures.
She has joined so many organizations that there is room to mention only some such as the Nikao Girls Brigade and Youth Member, the Tumutevarovaro Dance Troupe on their promotional tour in New Zealand and Australia in 1990, then being appointed liaison for the VIP guests during the Maire Nui IV Festival of Pacific Arts in 1992.In 2008, she was part of the Puaikura Culture Group which toured Australia and NZ and New Zealand and Australia in 2008 as an executive on both occasions.
On a personal note, Mairi says that having been raised in a musical Christian family, has helped in keeping her religious faith in everything she does.
Kia manuia and congratulations to Mairi Mokoroa-Heather on being WOM of November from all the sponsors of the event: CISNOC, Pitt Media Group, BCI, Manihiki Black Pearls, Aquarius Hotel, Yvonne at Vonnias, Tatiana and Colin at Perfumes of Rarotonga, Fuji Image and Cook Islands Printing, Sisi at Staircase Restaurant, Lydia Sjip of Pacific Apparel and Aunty Mii at Punanga Nui market.
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