The dream neighbour

At the age of 87 Alice Ratu (Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri) would seem entitled to put her feet up and let others do the running around. The lifelong resident of Te Kao, mother of seven and Nana to many, shows no sign of doing that though.

Mrs Ratu, who has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Award (community spirit), is the dream neighbour, although her generosity is not confined to her immediate neighbourhood.

She takes shopping orders from fellow Te Kao folk, collects them on her at least thrice-weekly trips to Kaitaia (120 kilometres-plus there and back) and delivers them, keeps a half-acre, most of the produce from which is distributed around the community, along with her home-made jams and pickles, all free and gratis, and is often seen picking pipi and mussels that she delivers to Switzer Residential Care on her regular visits to the Kaitaia rest home.

The elderly, children and young mothers are particularly close to Mrs Ratu's heart; she also gives massages to the elderly, using her home-made kawakawa balms, and knits slippers for the young and old. She even hopes to set up a knitting group at Te Kao.

An active member of the Maori Women's Welfare League and Ringa Atawhai for many years, her mission is to help anyone who needs her, all voluntarily, all without funding.

"I don't ask for money. Sometimes I'm down to my last dollar and I say to myself, 'What will I do now?' And then money comes in. The Lord is good to me."

She was honoured to have been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand Award.

"I wasn't expecting anything," she said. "I don't do it for recognition. I do it for the Lord." And it had always been so, her mother raising her and her siblings to live according to the ways of the Bible.

"We knew the Bible by heart. The greatest commandment is Love thy neighbour as yourself. And your neighbour is not just the person who lives next door to you but any person who is in need," she said. "When you're helping people, it makes you feel good. At the end of my life, I want to be worthy to say 'I did my best'."

Her nominator had not doubt that she was worthy of that.

"She always has something to give, whether it be food, bedding homeware, clothing from birth to old age, she will get it unselfishly and give to anybody who is in need," she said.

"She attends the markets and makes bread, pickles and apple pies, just to get extra cash to give and help the needy. A lady full of faith who strives her best to introduce her kindness and love wherever she is. This lady needs to be nominated for (all) she does for the Far North community and her loving spirit and heart. God bless her."

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Nominations for Pride of New Zealand Awards close this Sunday, 15 June. Shortlists will then be drawn up in each category, and regional finalists will be announced in four regions.

Regional awards ceremonies will take place in early August in Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Christchurch.

If you know someone who deserves to be nominated visit the official website.