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Grace Nicholls
Biography
BiographyGrace Pehunga Elers (later Nicholls) was born on 29 May 1934, of Ngāti Kahungunu descent, and raised at Te Ore Ore, near Masterton, where she lived until 1947; she attended St Joseph's Māori Girls' College in Napier.
After working as a shorthand typist for the Department of Maori Affairs in Wellington and Rotorua, she married Lyle Nicholls and came to Upper Hutt in 1953. Lyle worked for Dunlop as a tyre builder. Their first child was born in October 1953; they were to have eight children (six girls and two boys).
Grace became deeply involved in Māori welfare issues in Upper Hutt; she was involved with the Maori Education Foundation, Māwai Hakona cultural association, the Maori Women's Welfare League and the establishment and operation of the Upper Valley Marae Community Centre, which came to be known as Ōrongomai Marae. She performed with Māwai Hakona at the opening of the Sydney Opera House in October 1973.
She also did paid work as a shorthand typist at General Motors, a barmaid at the Provincial Hotel and as a barmaid/manager/secretary at the Upper Hutt Club.
She was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in the 1982 New Year Honours. The Governor-General presented her with the award on 6 May.
Grace Nicholls passed away after a long illness on 16 October 2018.
Grace Nicholls Grove in Riverstone Terraces is named after her.
She was interviewed by Caren Wilton on 16 March 2016 for the Upper Hutt in the 1960s oral history project; Recollect has the audio and an abstract.
After working as a shorthand typist for the Department of Maori Affairs in Wellington and Rotorua, she married Lyle Nicholls and came to Upper Hutt in 1953. Lyle worked for Dunlop as a tyre builder. Their first child was born in October 1953; they were to have eight children (six girls and two boys).
Grace became deeply involved in Māori welfare issues in Upper Hutt; she was involved with the Maori Education Foundation, Māwai Hakona cultural association, the Maori Women's Welfare League and the establishment and operation of the Upper Valley Marae Community Centre, which came to be known as Ōrongomai Marae. She performed with Māwai Hakona at the opening of the Sydney Opera House in October 1973.
She also did paid work as a shorthand typist at General Motors, a barmaid at the Provincial Hotel and as a barmaid/manager/secretary at the Upper Hutt Club.
She was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in the 1982 New Year Honours. The Governor-General presented her with the award on 6 May.
Grace Nicholls passed away after a long illness on 16 October 2018.
Grace Nicholls Grove in Riverstone Terraces is named after her.
She was interviewed by Caren Wilton on 16 March 2016 for the Upper Hutt in the 1960s oral history project; Recollect has the audio and an abstract.
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Oral History
Details
Also Known AsGracie NichollsDate of Birth29 May 1934Place of BirthMastertonDate of Death16th October 2018Place of Death56 Emerald Hill Drive, Upper HuttSexFemaleEthnicityMāori
Date of Birth29 May 1934Place of BirthMastertonDate of Death16th October 2018Place of Death56 Emerald Hill Drive, Upper HuttSexFemaleEthnicityMāoriMarriage
HusbandLyle Frederick Nicholls
Family
ChildPaul (married to Desma)Colleen (married to Danny)Bernadette (married to Kevin Wilkes)Anne (married to Rick)Michael (married to Jan)Sandra (married to Claude Collier)DeniseCarol (married to Malcolm)
Colleen (married to Danny)Bernadette (married to Kevin Wilkes)Anne (married to Rick)Michael (married to Jan)Sandra (married to Claude Collier)DeniseCarol (married to Malcolm)Iwi/Hapu
Connections
Grace Nicholls. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 25/01/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28769