Enid Marguerite Hamilton Tapsell (1903–1975) was a notable New Zealand nurse, community leader, activist, writer, and local politician.

Biography

She was born in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

, Waikato, New Zealand in 1903. Tapsell married into the Te Arawa iwi when she married in 1924 Kouma Te Omeka Whakamutunga Ngaherehere Tapsell (Tapihana). After her marriage, she moved to Maketu and lived there for 30 years, learned

Māori language Māori (), or ('the Māori language'), also known as ('the language'), is an Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the Māori people, the indigenous population of mainland New Zealand. Closely related to Cook Islands Māori, Tuamotuan, and ...

and contributed where she could in the community including with her nursing experience. She was active in advocating for equal rights for Māori. Later she moved to

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...

and set up the first museum there inside the old Regent Theatre building. She was also instrumental in the move of the museum to the old government bathhouse. In 1962 she moved into politics and was elected to the Rotorua City Council, one of the first two women to be in this position.

References

1903 births 1975 deaths New Zealand nurses New Zealand women nurses New Zealand city councillors People from Hamilton, New Zealand People from Maketu {{NewZealand-med-bio-stub