Maree Aoake - A multicultural multitasker
She launched into life from a small town Southland upbringing to a love story and life trajectory that before long would see her delight in being immersed into both Māori and Japanese culture. Maree Aoake took it all in her stride.
A first day pupil at Gore’s St Peter’s College, she became head girl, before studying for a Bachelor of Education at Otago University. “That’s where I met my gorgeous husband, Merv, who was at PE School,” she says. Merv, who passed away in 2020, started teaching in Christchurch, Maree joining him to teach there once qualified.
She was quickly welcomed into Merv’s extensive Matamata whānau, getting the nod from his Uncle Titi. “He was shelling pipis on the steps and I started to help. Merv came out and his uncle gave a thumbs up and said, ‘She’s alright, mate.’”
They married in 1982 and Maree had just scored her first teaching promotion when Merv, a talented rugby player, was invited to play rugby in Japan – one of the first Kiwi rugby players to do so. Merv, who played for Canterbury under former All Black coach Grizz Wyllie, and in the NZ Universities Team, had just returned from a rugby trip there.
They rented out the house they’d just bought, moving to Kumamoto in Southern Japan.
The career-oriented ‘little girl from Gore’ then found herself an “honourable okusan” (wife) in Japan. “I was told I was there to look after my husband, to make a swimming pool for him to swim in, and if he was tired to make it smaller and if he was energetic to extend it. I said, ‘But what about my swimming pool?!’”
Maree taught English to businesses, then later to pre-schoolers and mums, while Merv became a Japanese rugby superstar, swamped by media interviews.
Merv picked up the language quickly while Maree studied extramurally. It was essential. “Rugby Japanese was very different to formal Japanese and I made some embarrassing mistakes in the early days.”
Once, in her newly-accomplished Japanese tongue, Maree accidentally told a company official she looked like a ‘fish’, instead of like her son.
On another occasion at a very expensive restaurant with company bosses, Maree, proudly rehearsed in the traditional squat toilet, was instead drenched by a super powered bidet full of gadgets and instructions she couldn’t read.
They’d save up and bike to the next city once a month to enjoy a $200, 3-minute phone call with their families in NZ.
Daughter Ana and son James were both born there, in a country then offering no pain relief during childbirth. “You just got on with it.” Merv raised eyebrows when he wanted to be at Ana’s birth - long and challenging. “He got some sharp words when he likened my childbirth pain to a bike ride we once did from Christchurch to Gore, saying, ‘Come on, Pal! You’re nearly at the top of the Kilmog!’” smiles Maree. “It was the only time I lost patience with Merv.”
Maybe that wasn’t the only time. Her contractions started strong with James while watching Merv’s rugby game in Japan. “I signalled to Merv, ‘Got to go NOW!’ He ran off the field and said, ‘Do you think we can wait until the final whistle, Pal?” That was a firm, ‘No!’, Maree almost giving birth in the car park, then the whole rugby team arriving at the hospital soon afterward.
After five wonderful years in Japan making lifelong friendships, it was time to come home.
Merv taught at Wakatipu High School and in January, 1993, Maree launched Queenstown’s first Language School, Southern Lakes English College, with Stella Doubleday. They ran that for 12 years, benefitting greatly from Maree’s Japanese business contacts. Pioneers in Queenstown, they had a captive market incorporating Adventure English programmes, which combined the likes of rafting and snowboarding with English lessons. Southern Lakes English College also piloted Wintech, an English language skiing/snowboarding instructors’ course, which was later taken to Whistler.
Merv was soon invited back to coach rugby, commuting regularly to Japan. For eight years, Maree and the kids joined him for the second school term and the Christmas holidays. Maree home schooled the kids while periodically flying to other Asian countries to market the Language School.
In 2005, Maree sold the school, taking up HR manager roles at Millbrook, then The Heritage for eight years, and now Skyline.
Kind, gentle and empathetic, Maree has also been a volunteer counsellor, first for Lifeline while at uni, notching 17 years’ service for Wakatipu Victim Support - 15 on its committee, for which she was awarded special honours last year. Maree also serves on the Youthline Southland Board and says this work has given her a huge appreciation for her own loving and supportive family who’ve helped her through tough times. “I now get to pass that support on to others.”
