Kathleen (Kathy) Brooks (nee Oliver) is a sister of Brian of nzolivers.com

New Zealand Electoral Roll - Hastings Main Roll for 1978, found in July 2018:
Oliver, Kathleen Maud, 910B Florence Street, Bank Officer
Oliver, Maurice John, 910B Florence Street, Landlord [Father]

Death Notice
BROOKS, Kathy. On 19 July 2014, peacefully at the Bay of Islands Hospital. Aged 60 years. Dearly beloved wife of James and loved mum of Rebecca and Casey, Bobby and Joey. Loving Nana of Shakana and James. Our family's Manager A service for Kathy will be held at St James Anglican Church, 209 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri at 1:30pm on Thursday 24 July 2014 prior to private cremation. In lieu of flowers a donation in memory of Kathy may be made to Hospice Mid- Northland, P.O. Box 141, Kerikeri, 2045.
http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-...sthash.GnXhpwOn.dpuf

Eulogy - 24 July 2014
I’m Brian Oliver and I'm Kathy's brother. I will try to give you some insight into Kathy's childhood when we were growing up.

Kathy was born, Kathleen Maud Oliver, on the 26th of February, 1954, in Wellington. She was the youngest of three children. My older sister Helen, and I, still remember when we collected her from the hospital, all wrapped up in a white Baby Shawl.

Kathy was named after her two grandmothers - Kathleen McCaul on mum's side, and Maud Oliver on Dad's side.

She grew up in Karori in Wellington going to the local primary school, and then to Queen Margaret College, where her mum had gone.

Us three children were very close. Helen, being 7 years older, played a more maternal role, helping her mum - Whereas Kathy and I were playmates.

We did not have TV at home until Kathy was 7 years of age, and as young kids, we did a lot of playing together on the floor with blocks, building roads and building houses. Kathy used marbles as people, giving them all names.

Kathy loved the outdoors. And, with farming in her DNA going back through the generations, she loved her farming set complete with barns, cows, horses, and fences.

For outdoor activities we took advantage of a large hillside section, playing in the bush in front of the house, and the scrub and gorse beyond the rear boundary. Wellington hillsides were pretty wild in the 50s. We carved out walking tracks and making secret forts complete with foliage for the roofs. We dug out roads into a clay embankment beyond our back yard. Our small Dinky Toy cars would transverse our large network of roads.

Kathy from an early age was hungry for adventure. Once she started walking she was 'off'. In fact, I remember our mum having to put white leather reins on her when we walked down to the local Four-Square store and butcher to keep her safe.

Helen reminded me of being in Willis Street in the city when Kathy darted out onto the road between two parked cars - thankfully Helen managed to grab her in time.

As a three to five-year old she loved my trolley, and the family tricycle. There was only one-way for her to get the trike to the boys next door. Over the bank it went - the wheels ending up rather buckled over time-! That did not deter her from riding it-!! And she would often come home filthy covered in mud, from head to toe. Our mum just picked her up and plonked her in the bath - clothes and all-!!

Our mum did not drive, Helen took Kathy to swimming, ballet, and violin lessons. The violin was swapped for the piano when she was around 10, which she enjoyed for many years.

Kathy was introduced to the beauty of Northland during school-holiday road trips in our Volkswagen Kombi - long before they became trendy surfing vehicles, or campers.

When we couldn't erect the tent, we all slept in the Kombi - Kathy being in the prime position on top of the engine at the back. Our first trip to Northland was when Kathy was nearly 7. The roads in the mid and far-north were unsealed and dusty. We visited Kerikeri and stayed a couple of weeks camping at Hihi Beach, just south of Mangonui. In those days it was miles from anywhere, no shops, and were brought fresh milk daily, by a young Maori boy on horseback. We were the only campers - a lovely beach and huge trees to climb all over.

As kids, we had frequent visits and stays on our Dad's sister's sheep farm at Okoia in Wanganui. Of course, Kathy relished in the wide open spaces having all sorts of adventures with our cousins. Even when Kathy was in her late teens and early twenties - she would make frequent visits to the farm and had lots of wild and fun times.

Our mother passed away in July 1970 - Kathy was only 16. Far too young to lose your mum. Kathy was hungry for something more than school. Helen got her a job, working with her, in the Bank of New Zealand, in Courtenay Place in Wellington. Kathy was quick, had a good brain on her shoulders, and very hard working. This was the start of a long career with the bank, working in several branches.
A couple of years later, Dad decided on a change of direction for his life, and moved to Hastings. I stayed in Wellington, Kathy move with him. Kathy joined the bank there, and despite the frosty winter mornings, loved living in Hastings and made many new friends.

Kathy loved cars and loved driving. In fact I had forgotten, until I remembered when it came to thinking about what to say today - I taught Kathy to drive. She was a great student - listened to what I had to say - as I put her through her paces, in the steep and narrow windy back streets of Wellington. She relished in the challenge.

In fact she even went on to race a stock car at Meeanee Speedway in Hawkes Bay - on more than one occasion!

Back to normal roads, her real pride and joy was her Ford Capri. Based on the Ford Escort of the time, it was a two-door coupe with long bonnet and coke bottle shaped rear. Very sporty.

The mid-to-late 1970s saw family members move Northwards. I moved from Wellington to Kerikeri in 1976, sister Helen moved to Auckland a year later, and then Dad moved up from Hastings to Kerikeri - about the same time. And, it wasn't long before Kathy also headed north - to Kerikeri.

There must of been something called 'love' in the air in Kerikeri. I met and married Carol, Dad met and married Lynne, and yes, Kathy met James, fell in love, and married in the April of 1980. Kathy was here to stay. She loved Kerikeri, the countryside, the warm lovely people. Kathy loved her work and, raising a family.

Summing up her childhood and teenage years, Kathy never sat still. She pushed the boundaries, was adventurous, loving the challenge of doing new things.

Fast forwarding to this year, as you may know, Kathy celebrated her 60th birthday. It was great we could get together to celebrate in style. This has left happy lasting memories. And, in recent years Kathy, Helen, and I have got together with our families, normally just before Christmas. These were very happy occasions which I know Kathy enjoyed.
Kathy will be sorely missed - both by family and by her many friends. Her adventurous spirit, kindness and love has touched us all.

Kathy - you are now embarking on a new phase of your life - a new journey. Our love is with you and we will forever hold you in our hearts.