First woman on the Harbour Board

Maureen Brooker. Photo / Supplied

Maureen Brooker, MNZM, local body councillor. Died aged 75.

Maureen Brooker made history in 1983 when she became the first woman in 112 years to be elected to the Auckland Harbour Board.

At the time she was also a Waitemata City Councillor, and chaired the council's recreation and welfare committee. Later she served as chairwoman of the council's town planning committee, and was a member of both the Waitemata and Manukau Harbour maritime planning authorities.

After local body amalgamation in 1989, Mrs Brooker was elected to the new Waitakere City Council. She was also a member of the Auckland Regional Council, and was deputy to chairman Phil Warren.

Palliative care in the community was a lifelong interest for Mrs Brooker. Founder of West Auckland Hospice, Beverly Revell, paid tribute to Mrs Brooker's dedication to the enterprise.

"Maureen had great input to palliative care in our community and hospice. She was there from day one of West Auckland Hospice and generously gave many years of her time as trustee and chairwoman of the organisation. In the early days of the hospice, Maureen helped with everything from fundraising, training of volunteers to furnishing it when it was on Woodford Ave. She ensured the Hospice focused on the philosophy of homecare."

Born and raised in Melbourne, Mrs Brooker was a champion swimmer in her youth. She believed she learnt to be a strong and confident leader during those disciplined years of swimming training.

In 2001 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of her life-long work for the country.

Mrs Brooker was married to Henderson men's wear store owner Vic Brooker, who predeceased her. She is survived by her children and grandchildren.