Monica Ratcliffe was born in Opōtiki and was educated at Waimana Primary School and Whakatane, Hamilton and Ōpōtiki High Schools. In 1947-1948 she completed the Chamber of Commerce Junior Government Exam. Monica has worked for Māori Affairs, Social Welfare, and the Health and Labour Departments. She worked for ten years in an art gallery and museum. Monica began writing when researching a family history and has also written poems and short stories. She has attended a writers’ workshop led by Cathie Dunsford. Monica is now retired and lives in Gisborne.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Monica Ratcliffe, 6 Feb. 1998.
- Me and Marilyn Monroe. Ed. Cathie Dunsford. Wellington, N.Z.: Daphne Brasell, 1993. 215.
- Toi Wahine. Ed. Kathie Irwin and Irihapeti Ramsden. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 1995. 139-140.
Fiction
- "Arohanui." Me and Marilyn Monroe. Ed. Cathie Dunsford. Wellington, N.Z.: Daphne Brasell, 1993. 134-138. Rpt. in Toi Wahine. Eds. Kathie Irwin and Irihapeti Ramsden. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 1995. 127-130.
- In this story the nurturing and sustaining qualities of the earth mother are powerfully portrayed to Aroha in the form of a dream as she lies resting at the hospital bedside of her critically injured daughter, Nui. Aroha discovers a drawing of ‘The Earth Mother’ by Robin Kahukiwa in Wahine Toa: Women of Māori Myth, and decides to tell Nui about the Earth Mother. When she recounts her dream in the form of a poem Nui responds and breathes easier. Ratcliffe states that various important corrections were not printed in the publication of this poem. She writes that the word ‘Young’ in the third verse should be capitalised, and three short sentences were omitted from the end of the poem: ‘Aroha waited, poised for some response. Slowly the eyelids flickered, opened a little as two tears slid down Nui’s face. Slowly, very slowly a small smile appeared."
Poetry
- "On Kaiti Hill." In. ‘Arohanui.’ Me and Marilyn Monroe. Ed. Cathie Dunsford. Wellington, N.Z.: Daphne Brasell, 1993. 134-138. Rpt. in Toi Wahine. Ed. Kathie Irwin and Irihapeti Ramsden. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 1995. 127-130.
- A poem about Papatuanuku - the earth mother whose female form was shrouded by delicate mists since the time of her separation from Rangi by Tāne and his brothers up until the time of European settlement when a whole new order was introduced.