Ephra Mary Garrett QSM (20 September 1923 – 3 April 2008)[1] was a New Zealand social work and women's studies academic. She was the first Māori woman to be appointed as faculty at Massey University. Garrett was awarded an honorary doctorate by Massey in 1993, and in the 1997 New Years Honours she was awarded a Queen's Service Medal.

Ephra Garrett
Born20 September 1923
Died3 April 2008
AwardsKing's Service Medal, honorary doctorate
Academic background
Alma materMassey University
Thesis
Academic work
Doctoral studentsRobyn Munford

Early life and education

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Garrett was born in 1923 in Carterton, and affiliated to Te Atiawa and Ngati Mutunga.[2][3] She grew up in a bicultural home in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand, and attended Waipawa High School (now Central Hawke's Bay College).[4] Garrett trained as a teacher at Wellington Teacher's College and then taught in rural schools.[5][6] She joined the Department of Māori Affairs in 1952, where she was the Māori Welfare Officer for Ikaroa District.[5] Garrett then completed a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and worked with the psychology services in Palmerston North and as an educational psychologist in the United Kingdom.[5]

Academic career

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Garrett was appointed to the faculty of Massey University in 1968,[7] and completed a Master of Arts titled An exploratory study of the concept of a healthy family there in 1970.[8] Garrett was the first Māori woman appointed as faculty at the university.[9] With Merv Hancock she developed the Bachelor of Social Work a four-year degree programme, launched in 1976. Garrett became a founder member of the Social Work Unit within the Department of Sociology.[10] Garrett launched the first women's studies papers two years later.[3][11] At the 1962 Social Workers’ Study Conference in Dunedin, Garrett called for a code of ethics for social workers.[12][4]

Honours and awards

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In the 1997 New Years Honours Garrett was awarded a Queen's Service Medal.[13] She was awarded an Honorary doctorate from Massey in 1993.[14]

The Centre for Indigenous Psychologies at Massey offers the Whāea Ephra Garrett award in Garrett's memory.[15]

Personal life

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Garrett was married to Denny Garrett in August 1945, and they had two children, and also fostered children.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Ephra Mary Garrett". Massey University Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  2. ^ New Zealand Births, Marriages and Deaths online Certificate no 2008/8308.
  3. ^ a b c Rankin, Janine (11 April 2008). "Caring lecturer grew leaders". PressReader. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Honorary doctorate citation, Ephra Garrett, 1993". Massey University Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Garrett, Ephra". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Interview with Ephra Garrett". National Library of New Zealand. 1 October 1984. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Massey Our History".
  8. ^ Garrett, Ephra M (1970). An exploratory study of the concept of a healthy family (MA thesis). Massey Research Online, Massey University.
  9. ^ "Trailblazing women at Massey". Massey University Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ "MU, 36, 20 December 1993". Massey University Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  11. ^ Tennant, Margaret (10 August 2024). "Back Issues: The ill-judged abuser of a 'no good' de facto wife". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  12. ^ Media, Asset. "The New Zealand Association of Social Workers: Origins and Early Years". www.anzasw.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  13. ^ "New Year Honours List 1997 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 31 December 1996. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Honorary Degree Citations". Massey University Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  15. ^ "The Whāea Ephra Garrett Award". Centre for Indigenous Psychologies. Retrieved 27 October 2024.