Helene Ritchie and “The Burned Letter”
Dr Sheree Trotter interviewed Helene Ritchie about her career, her background and her latest book, ‘The Burned Letter: A New Zealander’s Holocaust Mystery’.
Who is Helene Ritche?
Born in Wellington, of refugee parents, Helene became a prominent local politician in Whanganui-a-tara/Wellington, the Capital of Aotearoa/New Zealand. She was the first Jewish woman elected to Wellington City Council, the first female Labour leader there, and the first female deputy mayor. There, as the longest serving city councillor, she initiated the controversial Declaration of Wellington as a nuclear weapon free zone; developed law to protect forever, the ‘Town Belt’ that vast natural and recreation tract of forest clothing the hills of the city, led the project creating a heart for the Capital - Wellington’s Te Ngakau/civic centre, successfully campaigned for a new library in the fastest growing suburb of the City and fought hard to protect Wellington’s waterfront as public space for the people.
She holds four degrees and two diplomas from Victoria and Massey Universities, and is a qualified registered psychologist, and mediator. As an invited writer in several books, she focused on women’s rights and feminist issues. She is also the author of two books, one on the nuclear declaration, and another, a personal story, Peter and me. When a Love story becomes a carer’s anguish which tells the story of her relationship with Peter her late husband, their journey with his dementia as a young person, her role as his carer and the shortcomings of the health system.
Helene was a city councillor for 30 years, a regional councillor for six and a health board member for 15 years, while practising her profession part and fulltime for most that time. She lives in Wellington, was married to her late husband Peter Ritchie, with whom she has two sons, Timmy and Jonty, and four grandchildren, Ira, Milly, Nuku and Pipiata.
Book Recommendations:
Helene Ritchie’s dedication and detail in discovering her mother’s story creates a powerful and very personal journey of a family and the community in which they lived against the history and consequence of the Holocaust and the disappearance of their world.
John Barnett, CNZM, NZ Film Producer
In this assiduously researched, comprehensive and moving memoir, Helene Ritchie delves into her family’s fraught history during the Holocaust.
Dr Ann Beaglehole, author of a Small Price to Pay
Aotearoa New Zealand occupies an interesting place for those Jews who sought to escape European antisemitism and the Holocaust. This book helps to explain that connection in a moving and highly compelling account of one family’s European background, stories of antisemitism and the challenges - and joys of settling in New Zealand.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley
