Dannevirke: Vivacious Tracey Nikora will be sorely missed

Tracey Nikora, who passed away this week from complications while battling cancer. Photo/Christine McKay

With the death of Tracey Nikora our district has lost an amazing woman, Tararua District mayor Roly Ellis says.

Tracey, the council's waste and recycling co-ordinator and volunteer firefighter, passed away this week from complications while battling cancer.

"Tracey's whanau, the Tararua District Council and Dannevirke have lost an amazing woman, whose tenacious outlook on life kept her and her family going through the last months of an exceptional life," Mr Ellis said. "We have lost a vivacious, hard working and totally committed lady who will be sorely missed.

"Tracey came to council without much knowledge of how life worked in the waste department, but within months had put her stake in the ground with both waste, recycling and the rural fire departments. She immediately became a person who would put her hand up to help anyone out, with a great smile on her face and always full of fun.

"Whether travelling throughout the Tararua to see that the recycling bins were cleared or arriving at a rural fire to help out, Tracey could be relied upon to be there," he said. "She was also instrumental in the building of the new transfer stations and mapping how they would be run.

"Tracey was quite amazing. After a month or so of chemotherapy she turned up at the Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Palmerston North just 10 days ago, to support the Nikora Whanau team to give her backing to their fundraising efforts. This was Tracey through and through."

As a journalist, working with Tracey was always a delight, she was open and frank and prepared to give anything a go. As a friend, she was bright, bubbly and happy to help out, even stepping up to act as barman at a family 21st birthday party.

Nothing was ever too much trouble for Tracey, with her stock answer, "of course I can darling." She was a unique and special person and will be sadly missed.