Christchurch community worker Aroha Reriti-Crofts has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Aroha Reriti-Crofts has been a member of Māori Women’s Welfare League since 1968, serving a term as National and International President from 1990 to 1993 and is a Life Member of the Otautahi Branch.

Since 1993 Mrs Reriti-Crofts has been a Trustee, Director and Chairperson of Māori Women’s Development Inc.

She has been a Trustee of Partnership Health Canterbury and the Southern Regional Health Authority Board of Directors. She has been the Runanga Representative of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu representing Ngai Tuahuriri. She is Chairperson of Matapopore Charitable Trust, culturally advising and guiding developers in the re-build of Christchurch.

Aroha Reriti-Crofts was Chairperson of Poutama Training Centre Trust and a Board member of the Ngai Tahu Development Corporation. She was Chairperson of Nga Maia Māori Midwives Trust and a member of the Management Committees for both Rakaia Māori Land Inc. and Mawhera Māori Land Inc. She was Supervisor of the Whānau Toko i te Ora Parenting Programme.

Aroha Reriti-Crofts is a member of Te Ropu Whakaruruhau Breast Feeding Authority and Te Ropu Kawa Whakaruruhau at ARA. She was a member of the Whānau Reference Group for the Families Commission, Quest Rapuara, Māori Education Trust, Kohanga Reo National Trust, and Enterprise Waitaha.

She was the Kaumātua and cultural advisor for the Queen Mary Hospital Group until its closure.

Mrs Reriti-Crofts is currently a Trustee of Te Puawaitanga Maori Health Provider and Kaumatua of Waimakariri District Council.