Paddy Walker

Eleitino Edwina Diana Patricia Walker (née Halliday; 14 October 1916 – 8 July 2015) was a New Zealand teacher, peace activist and politician.

Biography

Walker was born in American Samoa to a New Zealand father and Samoan mother from a chiefly family. At age 10 she attended St Cuthbert's College in Auckland carrying "only a suitcase and a ukulele". She was a talented pianist and composer later going on to teach music and eurhythmics at St Cuthbert's. She was the author of many peace themed songs and books for children.

She married traveling salesman Bill Walker. Bill caught tuberculosis during World War II while serving in the Pacific theatre and had to spend five years in hospital in Auckland and later Hanmer Springs. Consequently, Walker had to raise two young children by herself while her husband was having treatment. After introducing herself to Sir James Hay, she became a fashion co-ordinator at Hays Department Store. She worked with buyers and also organised fashion parades. In 1952 the family moved back to Auckland and took up a similar role at Milne & Choyce.

At the 1974 local elections Walker stood for the Auckland City Council on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket and was elected. She was the first Auckland city councillor of Pacific descent. She served two terms as a councillor until 1980 when she did not stand for re-election.

From 1973 and in 1976 Walker was the founding president of Pacifica, a nationwide Pacific women's organisation. She then joined the Pan Pacific South East Asian Women's Association in 1975, and was later their Peace Ambassador. She was involved in creating "peace gardens" in several countries including the Cook Islands, where she later lived after retiring in 1989. In 2009 she was one of 1000 "peace women" globally who were nominated for that year's Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2014 Walker returned to Auckland to live. She died there in July 2015 aged 98.

Recognition

In the 1977 Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours, Walker was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community and women's affairs. The Seumanutafa family, Chief of Apia provided her with the title Eleitino. One of the rooms at the Pioneer Women's Hall in Auckland is named in her honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Paddy
1916 births
2015 deaths
People from Pago Pago
American Samoan emigrants to New Zealand
People educated at St Cuthbert's College, Auckland
20th-century New Zealand women educators
New Zealand schoolteachers
New Zealand businesspeople in fashion
New Zealand women activists
New Zealand anti-war activists
20th-century New Zealand women politicians
American Samoan women in politics
Auckland City Councillors
New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire