Ereti Taetuha Brown known as Letty is a New Zealand MÃÂori community leader. In 2008 Brown was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to MÃÂori and youth. In 2024 Brown was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to MÃÂori and early childhood education.
Brown was brought up in Te Araroa. She is MÃÂori, and affiliates with Te WhÃÂnau-ÃÂ-Apanui and NgÃÂti Porou iwi. As a young mother in Te Atatà « in the 1950s, Brown found she was the only MÃÂori mother at her children's Playcentre because other MÃÂori parents were uncomfortable in the predominantly PÃÂkeha environment. She arranged special sessions for the MÃÂori children, which proved popular. Brown went on to help build Hoana Waititi marae, a marae in West Auckland for urban MÃÂori, and founded the Te Atatu branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League. She was also a founding member of the kapa haka group Manutaki.
Brown founded Te Puna Reo o Manawanui, a MÃÂori language immersion pre-school, in 2000. It was one of the first Puna Reo in New Zealand.
In 2016 Six60 performed their song Mother's Eyes for Brown in her backyard for Mother's Day.
In 1968 Brown won the Young MÃÂori Woman of the Year contest at the MÃÂori Women's Welfare League conference. In the 2009 New Year Honours Brown was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to MÃÂori and youth. In the 2024 New Year Honours Brown was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to MÃÂori and early childhood education.
Brown received an Honorary Doctorate from Te Whare Wananga o Wairaka in 2016. She was awarded Life Membership of the MÃÂori WomenâÂÂs Welfare League in 2017.