Ranui Ngarimu lived in Otira, Westland, for many years. During that time she worked as a teacher’s aide at Otira School, was a foundation member of the Matauranga Māori Cultural Club and was the tutor and leader of the West Coast contingent in the powhiri to Queen Elizabeth II and the athletes at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Ranui was voted West Coast Woman of the Year in 1986, is a former vice-president of the Arthur’s Pass Search and Rescue Society and has been a trustee of St Christopher’s Church, , Otira.
On moving to Christchurch, Ranui was Regional Manager of Skill NZ Canterbury before taking up her current appointment as Regional Manager of the Tertiary Education Commission Te Amorangi Matauranga Matua.
Ranui is one of New Zealand’s leading weavers and is Chairperson of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa. She has written stories and waiata for whanau use and has published poetry in The Penguin Book of Contemporary New Zealand Poetry/Ngā Kupu T˚tohu o Aotearoa.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Ranui Ngarimu, 23 July 1998.
- "Kupu Whakamihi: Mrs Ranui Ngarimu." Tu Tangata 32 (Oct./Nov. 1986): 61.
Non-fiction
- The Art Of Māori Weaving: The Eternal Thread: Te Aho Mutunga Kore. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 2005.
- Co-authors Miriama Evans and Ranui Ngarimu. Photographs by Norman Heke.
Poetry
- "Okarito." The Penguin Book of Contemporary New Zealand Poetry/Ngā Kupu T˚tohu o Aotearoa. Ed. Miriama Evans, Harvey McQueen and Ian Wedde. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 1989. 364.
- Māori text and English translation by Ranui Ngarimu.
- "Te Waipounamu/Te Waipounamu - The Land of Greenstone." The Penguin Book of Contemporary New Zealand Poetry/Ngā Kupu T˚tohu o Aotearoa. Ed. Miriama Evans, Harvey McQueen and Ian Wedde. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 1989. 364-365.
- Trans. Te Aomuhurangi Temamaka Jones.
Other
- "Kupu Whakamihi: Mrs Ranui Ngarimu." Tu Tangata 32 (Oct./Nov. 1986): 61.
- A short article noting that Ranui Ngarimu won West Coast Woman of the Year in 1986 and outlining her many services to her local Otira community.
- "Lessons From People Of My Past, A Privilege To Pass On To Others." Te Karere Māori 5.61 (Oct. 2000): 4.