He Tangata Liz Kereru

Ngāi Tahu – Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri

Kia whai korōria ki a Ihoa o ngā mano
Matua, Tama, Wairua, Tapu me ngā Anahera Pono me te Māngai āe.
Ko Tuahiwi taku kāinga tūturu, ko Tuahiwi taku piringa hoki

A blessing to be the youngest of five and raised by our parents, Te Ruahine and Johno Crofts, to be the person I am today. A wife and mother of three with 10 very spoilt mokopuna who are the delight of our lives. An educator of many kaupapa that are tikanga driven and an advocate of the whakataukī that I grew up with “Aroha ki te tangata, tētahi ki tētahi, ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō hea.”

Nā Heeni Te Whakaako, Kereru (Liz)

What constitutes a good day?
Beginning the day with whakamoemiti with my mokopuna and husband, ensuring that our spiritual and physical being are prepared for the day’s tasks.

One thing you could not live without?
My soulmate and my best friend, husband Shaun Kereru.

Who or what inspires you and why?
My two mothers, Te Ruahine and Heeni, have inspired, guided and kept me safe on the journey that I have been on thus far and continue to do so.

Highlight in the last yearand why?
Acknowledging and accepting my destiny has brought me back home to Tuahiwi after 20 years away.

What is your greatest extravagance?
My mokopuna because they get everything they want no matter what the cost.

Favourite way to chill out? Favourite place?
Papatūānuku grounds me, so putting my hands in the soil and feeling her energy is my healing and chill-out place.

Dance or wallflower?
Dance because music clears the way.

What food could you not live without?
I’m an emotional eater, so I love all kinds of kai.

What meal do you cook the most?
Butter chicken and pasta for my mokopuna.

Greatest achievement?
Becoming a grandmother.

Do you have an aspiration for Ngāi Tahu to achieve by 2025?
That we always acknowledge those that have paved the way for us to be able to move forward and never lose site of our Wairuatanga. “Paiheretia te ture wairua ki te ture tangata.”