Māori Party mourns the death of a former MWWL national president

04 February 2016

The Māori Party mourns the passing of Linda Grennell, former National President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, who lost her brave fight for life in Christchurch on Tuesday night.

“Taua Linda was national president of the League from 2005 through to 2008”, says Te Ururoa Flavell, Māori Party Co-leader.

“She was always a vigorous and vigilant champion for whānau wellbeing – as a Māori advocate in the independent Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service; a Board member of Kidney Health New Zealand, and through her own significant influence within ‘paradise’ – Te Runanga o Koukourarata,” he says.

“It was her courage and her commitment which former Whānau Ora Minister, Dame Tariana Turia, sought when she invited Linda to be a member of the Whānau Ora Taskforce that was established in 2009 under Professor Sir Mason Durie. The work of that Taskforce was instrumental in preparing the way for the Whānau Ora approach; an approach which Linda lived in every way”, says Mr Flavell.

“It was her contribution to our collective advancement as a wahine Māori that always distinguished her”, says Māori Party Co-leader, Marama Fox.

“Whether at a national level with the League; on the regional executive for Te Waipounamu, Kaunihera Tautoko a Rohe; or through her support for Māori Women’s Development Inc, Linda was a proud and passionate support for our wāhine and for our tamariki mokopuna,” says Te Ururoa Flavell.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Ngāi Tahu, to the members of Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora and to the whānau pani who have lost an inspirational family member, whose determination to make the most of every moment will never be forgotten,” he says.

Moe mai ra e te Taua.

ENDS

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