Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
5 mins ago
Kua hinga te totara I te wai nui a Tane
Māori Health advocate and former EIT educationalist Huia Beattie, who passed away late last week, was much loved during her time at EIT.
She attended St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ college and in 1964-65 graduated from the dental school in Wellington as a dental nurse. She was also a board member of both Te Kupenga Hauora – Ahuriri and Hukarere Girls’ College and was on the board of trustees at Te Aute College.
Tributes have flowed for Huia, who has left behind a rich legacy. She worked at EIT’s Faculty of Health for just over ten years, from 2002 to 2013.
Jan Lawrence, EIT Senior Nursing Lecturer, former colleague and personal friend of Huia, says Huia was a humble person with a “huge heart”.
“Huia was committed to Māori kaupapa and a fluent speaker of te reo Māori. She was a gifted Kaiako and spoke fondly of all her students and their successes.”
“There was much laughter and warmth in her classrooms. She lived the tikanga and this was evident also in the classroom. “
Jan says she has fond memories of being on the Marae with Huia while she taught. Huia loved Waiata and karakia, and was a gifted composer of Waiata. She had an extensive knowledge of all things Māori.
“She was always happy to help everyone, and she made a huge contribution to EIT, to education, and to hauora health in general.”
“In everyday life she always gave of herself, stopping to hug and mihi the many people who met her in the street. She genuinely loved so many people and vice versa. My condolences to her beautiful whānau who I know are devasted by this loss. She is sadly missed,” said Jan.
E te kahurangi moe mai rā, moe mai rā kia au tō te moe.
