Nini Rangimawhiti Naera was born in Rotorua, the daughter of Ani Pareraututu and Rev Wiremu Arometa Te Waaka who was the Māori Pastor in Tauranga from She attended Te Waipounamu Girls’ College and then later taught at the college. Nini worked in church mission work in the Te Ngae Pastorate. She married Tamehana Naera who was a World War One veteran and who kept the home going while she went out to work. She worked as a guide at Whakarewarewa at the same time as Guide Rangi. She then became the only Māori Woman Māori Welfare Officer and with Hamuera Mitchell covered Tokoroa, Kawerau, Tauranga, Whakatane and the whole of the Bay of Plenty. When Nini retired at the age of 63 she was often asked to speak to welfare groups and became very involved in the Māori Women’s Welfare League. She was an active member of the Te Arawa Anglican Church in Whakarewarewa.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Mahora Whiston, 3 August 1998.
- Phone conversation with Bubbles Mihinui, 9 July 1998.
Other
- "1915-1921." In ‘Tauranga - Impressions.’ Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 43 (Aug 1971): 12-17. Naera’s section 15-16.
- In this report of Nini Naera’s address to the Tauranga Historical Society at its July meeting in 1971, Naera recalls her childhood memories of living in Tauranga where her father, Rev Wiremu Arometa Te Waaka, was the Māori Pastor from 1915-1921.