By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Marilyn Davis says her bid for election to Ruapehu District Council’s Māori ward is driven by one clear kaupapa: the health and wellbeing of her community.
Born and raised in the district and educated at Orautaha and Raetihi primary schools and Ruapehu College, Davis says she has long combined grassroots advocacy with governance roles.
Her motivation to return to council comes from what she sees as an urgent social crisis in her home rohe.
“We’ve got no doctors in Raetihi, the chemist is closed, our mills have closed, our whānau were put off and they’ve gone.
“What’s motivating me to stand is the health and wellbeing of our people, not just of Māori but of our community.”
She wants to collaborate with health professionals to improve services and access across the district.
“Good health is the pinnacle for us.”
She previously represented her iwi Tamakana on the Ruapehu Māori District Council, where she says she and others were instrumental in establishing Māori wards.
“We went around to hui in Waiouru, Ohakune and Raetihi to inform whānau and hapū about the whole process of setting up a Māori ward, and why.”
Davis says her leadership style is anchored in consultation and accountability.
“All the decisions must come from the people. If you don’t go to the people, that’s where the raru comes in: ‘who gave you permission to do that?’
“I will make sure I go back to the right people, especially our hapū, whānau and iwi. If they say no, well it’s no. They are the decision-makers.”
She credits her early leadership training to the 1995 Pākaitore reclamation in Whanganui, where she was an administrator and responsible for security during the 79-day stand by mana whenua.
Under the guidance of leaders such as Dame Tariana Turia, Julia Ranginui, Ken Mair and Niko Tangaroa, she learned to listen, stand, speak, report back to the people and lead with purpose.
“What makes a leader is humility and making sure you listen to and are there for the people. I’ve been brought up like that.”
Davis says her grounding in community life includes working across kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa, wharekura and wānanga, as a kaiako and facilitator for marae-based studies in Raetihi and Whangaehu, and in social services.
Her values are steeped in whānau life, marae service and faith, she says.
She is a senior katipa at Rātana, a Māori Warden and a trustee for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, the post-settlement governance entity for central North Island iwi Uenuku, Tamakana and Tamahaki.
“I went to tangi with my nannies and koros. My biological pāpā was Mark Cribb – he was the paepae. And my whāngai pāpā, Te Katinga Kairimu, was the head cook.
“So I had the best of both worlds. I used to go out to sit in the mahau and listen to the paepae, then I’d go and help in the kitchen.
“I was brought up to manaaki. I was brought up to give and not expect anything back.”
Davis says she wants to ensure the Māori ward remains strong and is not deleted by referendum.
She urges all whānau to check that they’re on the electoral roll and vote.
“You can make the difference. You need to make the difference so that you can have a voice.”
Awa FM – Te Reo Irirangi o Whanganui
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