Iripeti Bethia Ranapia

Te Ao Hou, July 1973, Page 2

Iripeti Bethia Ranapia Haere ra e kui Kauria atu ra Te Moana i hoe ai e O tipuna e … Ka ngaro ki te po E kore na e hoki mai Ki a tatou nei e Noho wairangi nei If I was asked who I would name as one of the greatest leaders and workers in the development of the teaching of Maori language in the last ten years, I would have no hestitation in naming Elizabeth Bethia Ranapia who died at her home in Wellington on Sunday 15 October 1972. When Beth passed away she was editor, School Publications Branch, Education Department, and as editor she was in charge of all the school publications dealing with Maorí language. At the time of her death she had played a major role in revising Te Rangatahi I, Te Rangatahi II, Williams Maori Dictionary, and was working on the next textbook Te Reo Rangatira. Furthermore she was responsible for the editing of Te Wharekura journals (22 journals have now been printed) and the Te Tautoko journals (three have now been completed). Her writing of some of the Correspondence School assignments is also acknowledged. These textbooks and journals have made a major impact on the development of Maori language in schools. Indeed these books have supplied a demand by schools, teachers' colleges and universities. In Beth Ranapia we have lost a valuable contributor and leader in the development of Maori language. It was a very sad loss to Maoridom, for she brought to her job a high sense of dedication, sensitivity to a variety of dialects and a depth of knowledge that was astounding, particularly when one considers that she was born in 1909 in Scotland as Elizabeth McGregor, and having migrated to New Zealand received her teacher's certificate in 1940. Beth taught for a number of years in Te Kaha where she not only learnt Maori but also married Pat Ranapia. On moving to Wellington in 1955 she worked for ten years in the Correspondence

School and in 1966 was appointed as Editor (Maori Language) in School Publications. Since this time her unfailing efforts to provide Maori language books have been of tremendous value. Her dedication and enthusiasm for the language cannot be ignored or denied. The Maori people have lost a staunch supporter of the language that provides an insight into their rich cultural heritage. She is survived by her husband and three daughters. Haere e kui ki o tatou tupuna, haere, haere. Te Kahu Tihi No te rua tekau ma wha ō ngā ra a Maehe i mate ai. Whitu tekau ōna tau. He Rangatira no te hapū nei no Ngātirongo i roto o Tuhoe—He uri no ngā Rangatira, Te Rāhikoia ki roto o Tuwharetoa—Rangite ao rere ki roto o Te Arawa—ka puta ki te kōrero nei (Te Tokotoru a Kokāmutu). He mōrehu no te Haahi Mihingare. Haere ki o tatou Mātua—ki ngā poutaketake o te Haahi i roto o Ruātoki. Kia Paora Rangiaho Kia Tewhetu Paerata Kia Teihi Hawiki Kia Te wharetini Rangi Kia Te Rāma Haki Rangiaho Kia Hurihia raua ko Hōri Hohua Kia Hinerotu raua ko Hime te ariki Numia Kia Ameria McGarvey—Kia rātau ma, Haere Ki to Hoa wahine Kia Riripeti. He oi na to Tamaiti Na Renata Numia Rangi