She later became a member of the Tekau-Ma-Rua, a group of representatives from across the country chosen by the Māori king Te Arikinui Kiingi Tūheitia.

[6] Mariu was chosen to serve as the first patron to New Zealand's largest Māori public health body, Hāpai Te Hauora Tapui back in 2014.

Her relation Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi is also currently in this group as a companion member due to her work for Māori language revival.

When her grandmother died in 1937, Mariu and her grandfather left Wharekahika to stay with her parents and younger brothers, Arthur and Winston (father of Rawiri), at Otamaroa, Cape Runaway.

After high school, Mariu went on to a sporting career before settling down in West Auckland as a teacher and later a community leader.

With the first team to be selected since 1948, the 1960 edition proved the turning point for Netball in New Zealand and with it, the start of the modern era for the sport in this country.

Playing under the recently-adopted international rules of seven-a-side, the 1960 Silver Ferns set off across the Tasman for a 15-game tour 22 years after their historic first-ever Test against Australia.

Growing up in Hicks Bay on the East Coast, she was a natural athlete from early on and, as well as Netball, went on to become a national softball and indoor basketball representative.

Well suited to the playmaking role of goal attack, she had the distinction of becoming New Zealand’s first winning captain when the Silver Ferns prevailed 49-40 in the first Test, on the grass centre tennis court in Adelaide.

On returning home, she married and retired from international Netball but her passion remained strong and she moved into coaching at school, Club and provincial level with great success while also becoming a Silver Ferns selector."

Mariu coached some notable players over the years like Yvonne Willering and Te Aroha Keenan.

[9] Mariu led the initiative as her commitment to making a healthy lifestyle difference for Māori women and their families using netball as the vehicle of change.

Players like Waimarama Taumaunu, Dame Noeline Taurua, Jenny-May Clarkson, and Temepara Bailey.

She also had strong ties to the Hoani Waititi Marae in Glen Eden alongside the likes of Sir Pita Sharples.

Before retirement, she spent her last working days as a lay advocate helping youth in the justice space at Hoani Waititi Marae.

During her time living in Auckland, Mariu also had connections with Dame Naida Glavish as mana whenua, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.