Dorothy was born in Auckland and attended Maungawhau Primary School, Mt Eden, and Epsom Girls Grammar. She went on to study at the University of Auckland and Auckland Teachers’ Training College and graduated with an M.A. Dorothy worked as a teacher at all levels up to senior secondary and was involved in relief teaching at many country schools during the Depression and Second World War. She ended her work career as Senior Woman at ōpōtiki District High School, now ōpōtiki College. Her poems have been published in various publications by her daughter Trixie Te Arama Menzies.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Trixie Menzies, 29 June 2004
Poetry
- "Invictae." Uenuku. Auckland, N.Z.: Waiata Koa, 1986. 26.
- Poems by Trixie Te Arama Menzies. Illus. Toi Te Rito Maihi. Trixie Te Arama Menzies includes this poem by her mother, Dorothy Calvert. It is a response to the transitory nature of life.
- "Tangi." "A Sequence by Dorothy Calvert." Papakainga. Poems by Trixie Te Arama Menzies. Illus. by Toi Te Rito Maihi. Auckland, N.Z.: Waiata Koa, 1988. 31.
- "Homecomings." Papakainga. Poems by Trixie Te Arama Menzies. Illus. by Toi Te Rito Maihi. Auckland, N.Z.: Waiata Koa, 1988. 32-33.
- "Colours." Rerenga. Poems by Trixie Te Arama Menzies. Illus. by Toi te Rito Maihi. Auckland, N.Z.: Waiata Koa, 1992. 22.