Airini Woodhouse

Airini Elizabeth Woodhouse (née Rhodes; 8 November 1896 – 13 April 1989) was a New Zealand community leader, historian, and author.

Personal life Airini Elizabeth Rhodes was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 8 November 1896. She was an only child. She grew up on Blue Cliffs, Canterbury, one of her family's sheep-stations. Arini was educated a governess and showed an early aptitude for writing. In 1913 she attended Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru.

On 22 September 1921 Arini married Randal Woodhouse at Upper Otaio. Her husband was the Medical Superintendent of Wellington Hospital, Shortly afterwards Randal resigned from his position to learn farming so he could be the manager of Blue Cliffs station. Arini had inherited a first option on the station from her father's estate.

Published works She is the author of: Tales of pioneer women (1988) Blue Cliffs: the biography of a South Canterbury sheep station, 1856–1970 (1982) New Zealand Farm and Station Verse 1850–1950 (1967) Blue Cliffs School and District Activities 1910–1960 (1960) Guthrie-Smith of Tutira (1959) George Rhodes of the Levels and his Brothers (1937) The History of the Parish of Otaio and Blue Cliffs (with J. Hay, 1930) Bidwill of Pihautea: the life of Charles Robert Bidwill (1927)