Personal Profile Summary
Helene RITCHIE, our first woman deputy mayor is the longest serving City Councillor in the Capital. Helene was first elected from Northern as a Johnsonville playcentre mother aged 32, and psychologist.
She became Wellington’s first woman Labour Leader and first stood for Parliament and the mayoralty at a time when no women had won the mayoralty and only four were in Parliament.
Now she is a City Councillor and Health Board member and also a registered psychologist; and business woman. She has graduated from Victoria University and Massey, wit four graduate and postgraduate degrees and two diplomas in psychology, education, languages, and business studies (dispute resolution).
Helene brings extensive governance, civic, professional, and business, experience to the Council and the Board.
Outspoken
She is known as outspoken, for the “ordinary” person.
Effective
Helene knows how to be effective in elected governance. She works effectively with colleagues, staff and community to get things done for Northern and the City to make a difference for others.
Health
The health of a people is crucial to the health of a City.
Personal and family experience of system gaps in at least 10 key areas motivates me to improve some parts for others. I remain impressed with the dedication of the doctors and nurses.
Helene's key achievements for Wellington
Nuclear weapon free zone
In 1982 she instigated the city's nuclear weapon free zone.
Fran Wilde, Helene and Sonja Davies. Selling white poppies, Hiroshima Day 4 August 1983. Wellingtonians were proud of their nuclear-free city and very angry when their prominent sign was removed by Mayor Prendergast. (Both Evening Post)
First woman labour leader in Wellington
Helene was the first woman Labour Leader on the Council, a position she held for six years.
1982 Evening Post
At the same time, she worked as a full-time psychologist in the Department of Education and chaired Wellington's Airport Authority and the national organisation of airport authorities. As a business woman, she was a long time member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. She holds four postgraduate degrees and two diplomas in psychology, education, and business studies (dispute resolution).
During this time she initiated Wellington’s Moa Point sewage campaign and led it City wide co-establishing the Clean Water campaign, and at the Council table.
Moa Point: Early days before the Clean Water Campaign was set up (Evening Post)
1981 Springbok tour
She co-led with Sir Guy Powles a deputation to the Governor General, Sir David Beattie, expressing concern about civil disruption in New Zealand, racism and Apartheid, and asking for the 1981 Springbok tour to be stopped.
Helene, Sir Guy Powles and Archbishop Tom Williams at Government House (Evening Post)
Town Hall Wellington
Saving Wellington’s Town Hall from demolition was another won by Helene on her initiative and motion with the support of a majority of councillors.
First woman deputy mayor of Wellington
Helene was deputy mayor to (Sir) Jim Belich. (Sir) Michael Fowler and Helene: leading a deputation to Parliament (Evening Post)
Helene became Wellington's first woman deputy mayor in 1986. During that time, she chaired the highly successful civic centre project - the heart of the Capital - and held all key portfolios of the council.
Leading: world class civic center project
Today Helene is our longest serving City Councillor and a Health Board Member since 2001, after the death of Peter her partner.
Northern
Helene lived in the Northern Suburbs, in Ohariu Valley and based in Johnsonville for most of her life with her husband and family. Tim now works as a doctor and Jonty is an ardent mountain biker. Today her home is in the heart of the City, surrounded by world class cafes, film and theatre, and overlooking the waterfront, harbour and hills of this amazing and special City.
Wellington Free Ambulance Base: North Wellington: Johnsonville
Helene helped open the new Ambulance base in the heart of Johnsonville this year, 2010.
Safety is important in our Northern suburbs. We now have ambulance, fire and police services in a hub ready to serve the people. Essential infrastructutre is important in every community. As a Health Board member I know the value of our Free Ambulance Service is immeasurable.
Outdoors
Base of Aconcagua, Andes.
Helene fought a battle against breast cancer and grief issues brought on by the death of her husband Peter. Today she is fit, strong and well. She loves the outdoors and natural environment. She's a strong skier and swimmer, does yoga, and walks and tramps with the Tararua Tramping Club or other friends or on her own. She enjoys classical and other forms of music, sings in the Wellington Community Choir and was with a Trade Union women's choir - Choir Choir Pants on Fire.
She loves to sing, to laugh, to dance.
Helene with Sherrill, Tim and Miri.
Family
Helene was born in Wellington. Her parents came to this country as refugees from the Holocaust, with no English, no money, no belongings. Her Grandparents and extended family were murdered.
Her father a lawyer - Doctor of Laws, could not practise in New Zealand and sometimes unemployed, then became a Watchmaker. Her mother pioneered health foods in New Zealand.
They lived in Naenae a State Housing area and Helene went on to become Head Prefect of Hutt Valley High School.
OUR MOKOPUNA ARE OUR FUTURE
Pipi Ata Arohatia Deans Ritchie and Nuku Te Rangi Takaroro Deans Ritchie.
Milly Nova Deans Ritchie Meek (and Nuku).
Ira Deans Ritchie Meek
“Our mokopuna are the future of this wonderful country Aoteroa/New Zealand and of our City-Te Whanganui a tara/Wellington.
It is about the children and future generations. It is about thinking global and acting local as we the kaitiaki-the stewards of the land, heed climate change and act to protect our environment and to ensure social justice for all people.”