KEY POINTS:
Minnie Mariu may be small in stature, but the 74-year-old has a huge amount of mana in her Otara community.
Mrs Mariu has cleaned the park across the road from her Firth Crescent property for 48 years, waking up at 4am every day to pick up rubbish and remove graffiti.
Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust general manager Graeme Bakker said Mrs Mariu was a remarkable lady with an "amazing attitude".
"Her key thing is that she always laughs and smiles."
Mr Bakker said she was "incredibly dedicated" to keeping the community's streets and parks tidy and safe for the local children.
"For quite some years she has been looking after the area, removing graffiti from the park adjoining her property, and just generally making sure it's being looked after for the young kids in the area."
He said she was well respected in the Otara community.
"She's up against some pretty difficult stuff out there with drugs and alcohol, and young teenagers who keep tagging the place," he said. "She's certainly not afraid of them."
Mrs Mariu said she often had to tell young people drinking in the park at night to leave and admitted she was not too sure why they listened to her.
"I think it's because I've been here so long and everybody knows me."
Her motivation for her dedication to the community is simple: "I just do it for the children."
A seat with a plaque commemorating Mrs Mariu's work is planned for the park.
As well as her volunteer work cleaning the streets, Mrs Mariu also helps out at the local kohanga reo and often drives elderly locals to the shops, doctor and other appointments.
"Everyone says I'm a star, but I'm not really," she says.
"I love doing it, it's my job."
