Profiles of Motueka people
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Motueka has its share of interesting people, achievers, and community minded workers - people who want to make a difference. Motueka Online wants to acknowledge and celebrate these people. Each week (roughly) we talk with someone special and write a profile about what they do and why.
Scroll down this page and read about these people by clicking the "Full profile" links. The higher up the page, the more recently the profile was added.
Pauline Samways: natural scientist and SeniorNet co-ordinator
(September 3rd, 2010): Pauline made time for our interview during the busy days leading up to the "Welcome to the Godwits" celebration, her current big project. Her work with "birding" and conservation, along with her years teaching at Lower Moutere School and her heavy involvement in organising SeniorNet have made her well known in the Motueka community. Full profile »
Sjors Brouwer: budget advisor, kayaking guide and fearless do-it-yourselfer
(August 20th, 2010): When Sjors and his wife Catherine decided to move to Motueka they reversed the usual local demographic trend. Instead of moving away from Mot to seek broader opportunities, they moved from busy European cities to a place where "anybody can do anything they choose". Full profile »
Shirley Frater: Champion of the arts, and builder of community networks
(August 5th, 2010): One of the main driving forces behind Motueka's Arts Council and other art-oriented community groups, Shirley Frater is a firm believer that these groups can help individuals to grow to a fuller potential as well as lift community pride and effort. Full profile »
Johny O'Donnell: a voice for youth and an aspiring politician
(July 21st, 2010): Not all high school dropouts do so out of laziness. Johny is an example of one who chose to leave school early in order to focus, for now, on issues about which he's passionate - advocating for youth and giving them a voice on the political stage. He's only 16, but this strapping, well-spoken Motueka lad is already making waves nationally. Full profile »
Laura Mueller: student leader and dancing teacher looks to the future
(July 10th, 2010): For one who's been considered shy in the past, Year 13 student Laura Mueller is now dedicating much of her efforts at school and in the community into helping other young people who are shy, particularly those who want to use dancing as an outlet. Laura was recently recognised at the 2010 Tasman Volunteer Youth Awards. Full profile »
Liz Salt: Festival of Lights organiser and backpacker owner
(July 1st, 2010): Liz was feeling just a little weary before our chat this week, and for good reason: she'd spent the past few weeks as the go-to person for the Festival of Lights, organising sudden changes of plan, checking on event organisers, and supportively attending every event in person. Now it's over, she had the finances and post mortems to tackle. Full profile »
Grant Douglas: gardening guru and community worker
(June 20th, 2010): Grant strongly believes that a good life consists of three periods: you learn stuff, then you do stuff, then you teach others how to do stuff. Although he's still doing plenty of learning and doing, Grant's life is now moving into the third phase as increasingly he finds himself helping and advising newbie gardeners on the secrets of growing plants. Full profile »
Kate Markham: busy mother and innovative youth worker
(June 6th, 2010): Kate got into youth work largely by accident, but this busy mother of three has taken to the task of helping at-risk youths with the vigour and empathy of a fully trained professional. See has also become involved in a range of community activities that have, invariably, been linked to the interests and activities of her growing children. Full profile »
Ron Sharp: gentle social activist and environmental champion
(May 26th, 2010): Ron's adult life has been devoted largely to working with and for people who needed a hand up, while also trying to use and live on a minimum of environmental resources. He is currently chairman of the Motueka Community House committee and is often seen there supporting community groups that use the rooms there. Full profile »
Anita Newport: young mother, business woman, and sustainability practitioner
(May 15th, 2010): Any young adults looking for a role model on how to balance family life, running a business and being involved in the community could do worse than learning from mother of two and Parkes Automotive co-owner, Anita Newport. Anita has set goals for herself to ensure her own children have a happy upbringing in a sustainable community. Full profile »
Malcolm Garrett, one very busy community worker
(May 3rd, 2010): A big man with a big heart, Malcolm Garrett is one great example of a "foreigner" (smile) who retires to Motueka, only to become heavily involved in the activities of the community he loves. Malcolm is a member of 10 community groups and clubs! And not just a member; in most cases he's on the committe or is (or was) chairman or such. Full profile »
Madhu O'Brien, holistic health worker
(April 22nd, 2010): Working at the Whanau Ora unit of Te Awhina Marae is taking multi-talented Madhu O'Brien one step closer to a dream she's held for nearly 10 years - to be part of a Wellness Centre for people seeking holistic growth, culture and adventure. Madhu has packed an enormous amount of experience and learning into her 28 years. Full profile »
Bob Cooke, tireless worker for Keep Motueka Beautiful
(April 12th, 2010): Since retiring from his business activities in Motueka, Bob has been a tireless worker and organiser for Keep Motueka Beautiful, the group behind so many of the places and walkways which have made Motueka a place proud of its outdoor spaces. Now in his 80th year, Bob Cooke is easing back on some of his more adventurous activities. Full profile »
Bev Clementson, ex-netball administrator and family lady
(April 3rd, 2010): If anyone can truthfully say they were born, raised, bred and lived their whole life in Motueka, Bev Clementson can. She's now living only a few hundred metres from the house in which she was home-birthed, and has lived 73 active years filled with fun, activity and the occasional anguish. Full profile »
Duncan Eddy, Motueka Community Board member
(March 15th, 2010): For some years he was seen more as an activist or protester, but fatherhood, successful tertiary education and more time to ponder have seen him turn to more positive contributions. "Rather than continually protesting about the bad things, it was time to focus primarily on building up the good things," he says. Full profile »
Dudley (Dud) McNabb, 90 years old this month
(March 3rd, 2010 - Article supplied): He has always enjoyed life as a family man, while his working life was spent mostly in carpentry but also the navy. Dud, as he is known to his family and friends, was born in Nelson in 1920. Brought up at Green Tree Road, Riwaka, along with his two brothers and six sisters, he attended Riwaka School. Full profile »
Paul Hawkes, Motueka Community Board member
(January 28th, 2010): His "inability to say no" has led Paul Hawkes into a variety of life experiences, ranging from being "Mister Christmas Lights" and leading the brass and pipe bands, to serving on the Motueka Community Board. And being on the (ahem) large side of average build has made him an ideal Father Christmas too, a role he's always been happy to fill whenever asked. Full profile »
Tara Forde, Motueka Community Board member
(December 12th, 2009): One of New Zealand's youngest local government politicians believes in possibilities, positives and grass-roots democracy - and learning the art of listening. "Young means being open to seeing what's happening and what could be," says Tara Forde, one of four elected members of the Motueka Community Board. Full profile »
