Development-the-Movie

My name is Urikore Jullien Dwyer (Jules) and I am very proud of my tribal affiliation—namely the Whakatohea tribe. I come from a strong matriarchal line—my grandmother Motoi Porikapa Honatana was a well known and respected healer and rongoa (herbal) expert and was often called upon by many tribes to use her considerable healing and herbal medicinal skills amongst the sick and ailing. She was also a staunch follower of the Ringatu religion and I remember well attending many of the "Tekau ma rua" church meetings (held on the 12th of the month at different marae).

My mother Matekitewai Rewa Stewart was one of the first young Maori women from our tribe to be sent to Queen Victoria School in Auckland. Unfortunately, she was recalled home to help nurse the families around the Pa when the Influenza Epidemic struck our country soon after the 1st World War. My mother was an industrious worker who fended for her family during those awful years and her strength lay in her fervent belief that Te Atua and Education was the only way for her family to progress. She must have believed in this as she sent me to a Church of England School for Maori Girls — Hukarere. I spent five happy years at school with dedicated teachers—those were the days of the 'vocational calling'.

I trained as a School Dental Nurse, and after several years in the field moved to Wellington to join the teaching staff. Fifteen years later I was seconded to the then Department of Health to join the Cervical Screening Implementation team. I retired from the Ministry of Health Human Resource Section to run my only son’s business at the time of his death. My husband and I worked for four stressed out years bringing the business to a viable state before selling out. What we thought would be graceful retirement has not eventuated!

In September 2007 I completed twelve years as the lay member of the Occupational Therapy Board. I was the Deputy Chair and during my extended term participated in two Court Disciplinary Hearings. I thoroughly enjoyed being on the Board.

My time is spent, in the main, working in a voluntary capacity at the Maraeroa Marae, Waitangirua, Porirua. I am the Vice President for the Marae Executive Committee. I am also the Chairperson for the Maraeroa Marae Health Clinic Governance Committee. Finally, I represent the Marae stakeholders on the Porirua Health Plus Board of Governors. Day to day business is attended to by my husband and I — tradespeople, assisting the Booking Officer, catering, hosting visiting groups and generally keeping busy!

My spare time is spent with my four mokopuna. They are better than any pill/medication guaranteed to keep one young!

I also love being an active member of Te Roopu Tahiwi o te Whanganui-a-Tara Kapa Haka team. As well as performing, I am the Regional delegate on the He Kura te Tangata National board for Kaumatua Kapa Haka. Te Roopu Tahiwi consists of kaumatua fifty five years and over dedicated to showing our young people the performing arts of yesteryear. This concept is national and we all recently performed at the Te Matatini Maori Festival in Palmerston North. Matariki is celebrated at Te Papa and we have eight groups from around the country performing. Imagine the joy of having a ninety two year old and two late eighty kuia performing, on stage and on television. Magic!

I appeared in an episode of Country GP, as a kuia.

Na Julie Dwyer