Bubbles Mihinui

Dorothy Huhana "Bubbles" Mihinui (née Sewell; 20 December 1919 – 26 June 2006), also known as Guide Bubbles, was a New Zealand tourist guide and community leader. She became chief guide at Whakarewarewa in 1970, following the death of Guide Rangi.

Early life and family Mihinui was born Dorothy Huhana Sewell, at Whakarewarewa on 20 December 1919. Her mother, Watu Sewell (née Waretini) was a guide at Whakarewarewa and known as a singer, and was the sister of Deane Waretini Snr. Her father, Samuel Sewell, was Australian. For short periods, she attended Point Chevalier Primary School, Poroporo Native School, and Whakarewarewa Native School, but much of her education was by the Māori oral tradition.

Guide at Whakarewarewa She was selected by Mita Taupopoki to be a guide at Whakarewarewa, and began as an apprentice guide in 1936. She was mentored by Guide Bella Papakura, and became a registered guide in 1938. She was also a marriage celebrant.

In 2000, Mihinui was part of a group that lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal, alleging that the government had encouraged Māori to smoke and had failed to give early warning of the health dangers of smoking. The claim was ultimately unsuccessful. and after her tangihanga at Te Pākira Marae she was buried at Kauae Cemetery, Ngongotahā. The prime minister, Helen Clark, paid tribute to Mihinui, saying:

Honours and awards In the 1985 New Year Honours, Mihinui was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the tourist industry and the community. She was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993. In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, she was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori, tourism and the community.

In 2001, Mihinui received the Sir Jack Newman Award, in recognition of her contribution to tourism in New Zealand. In 2004, she was one of five recipients of Ngā Tohu a Tā Kingi Ihaka (the Sir Kingi Ihaka Award), given to kaumātua (elders) who have dedicated their lives to the retention of Māori arts and culture.