"Minnie Ratima changes lives. She takes children into her home to keep them safe, and fights to find a place for them".
Of the 30-odd nominations that came in for this year's Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year, this was the line that stuck with me. And the line that as a member of the judging panel, swayed me.
The Marewa and former Maraenui super-hero and cheerleader of youth was nominated by Meg Rose, who also praised her friend for "reframing relationships with police, politicians and nature". It was quite the nomination.
Let's note that there were plenty of worthy finalists. Among them teachers, social justice crusaders, lawyers, those who work with the disabled, sports coaches and people who work with the terminally ill.
Suffice to say as a judge distilling this list is a torturous exercise; it's incredibly tough to put a line through the names of those who have so many selfless credentials.