Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid, Cook Islands advisor on our Pacific Islands Advisory Board passed away suddenly in Auckland Hospital on June 17th. She was 67 years old. You can read more about her incredible contributions to the environmental movement in this touching tribute in the Cook Islands News.
This is a loss for Global Greengrants Fund, but more importantly for the Cook Islands, where she was a very important leader. At the last Pacific Islands Advisory Board meeting she remarked with great optimism about how environmental consciousness was developing in the Cook Islands. She attributed our grantmaking as one of the causes. However, she was certainly being modest. The growing environmentalism is much more a result of her leadership and tireless involvement in so many organizations and aspects of Cook Islands society where she advocated for the environment and protection of cultural traditions.
Several of our Pacific Islands advisors contributed their condolences and fond memories of Dorice:
“She was a treasured friend, colleague and mentor who shall be missed everyday. The conservation world has lost a true friend.” – Lucille Apis-Overhoff, Micronesia, Global Greengrants Pacific Islands Advisor
“Te Tika will be greatly missed by the Global Greengrants Fund community. For us in the Pacific, she has carved out a space and time never to be filled again, but her legacy will live on.
She was a remarkable negotiator and orator endowed with skills, knowledge and wisdom to make fair decisions, a rare commodity in our world today. A true Chief is gone, but may her legacy live on forever.” – Rex Horoi, Fiji Islands, Global Greengrants Pacific Islands Advisor
“She was a lovely woman and very articulate in her thoughts. I have fond memories of the time we all were together during the Global Greengrants Fund Advisory board meetings.
The Cook Islands have lost a great women leader and chief in her own right, and surely her legacy will live on forever. Bamahuta susa, Dorice.– Damien Ase, Papua New Guinea, Former Global Greengrants Pacific Islands Advisor
“She will always be remembered for her commitment and determination to the Cook Islands Community through ensuring proposals for the benefit of her community are considered and approved.” – Margaret Rimoni-Yoshida, Fiji Islands, Global Greengrants Pacific Islands Board Administrator