Rachel Mary Pita

15 June 2026

I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of Rachel. As a colleague, she was respected, admired and appreciated by all who worked with her. We were very lucky to have her talent with us at Verian. Her impact is indelible and she will be greatly missed by your team and clients. Rest in peace, Rachel. Thank you for all you did for us.

Michelle Harrison

15 June 2026

I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of Rachel. As a colleague, she was respected, admired and appreciated by all who worked with her. We were very lucky to have her talent with us at Verian. Her impact is indelible and she will be greatly missed by your team and clients. Rest in peace, Rachel. Thank you for all you did for us.

Michelle Harrison

13 June 2026

Rest in peace beautiful Rachel. You were an absolute angel on earth and so caring, loving & smart. We will miss your laughter, your smiles, your music & football chats, your thoughtful, caring words & great sense of humour. It has been wonderful to get to know you, Hirini & the boys & they have all developed a wonderful friendship with our son. Our deepest condolences to Mary, Morris, Hirini, Kahika, Wiremu, Wini & all the family.

Verity, Paul, Adam & Amelia Whittaker

12 June 2026

Our deepest sympathy to Sid, Charlie, Billy and Winnie, Mary and Morris and their family, on the loss of your amazing and special wife, mother, daughter and sister. Our beautiful niece Rachel will be missed so much by so many people for her big smile, kindness and genuine connection with everyone she met. Her amazing smile, warmth, hugs and laugh will never be forgotten by our family. We were so lucky to enjoy extra special time with Rach when she was living in Perth. Rest in peace and love Rachel. You will live in our family’s hearts forever Margaret and Peter & Jeremy, Sarah & families

Peter and Margaret Watt

12 June 2026

Rach was truly one of a kind, smart, funny, hardworking, and so incredibly beautiful inside and out. She had this rare gift of lighting up every room she walked into, and anyone lucky enough to know her will carry that warmth with them always. Her warmth and mana live on in her boys and her husband Hirini, and we hold them all close in our hearts during this time. The world is a little quieter without her in it, but so much richer for everything she gave us. Rest easy, Rach. You were so loved. 💛

Natasha Rerekura

11 June 2026

Rest in peace beautiful Rachel sending love to your whanau across the miles from Scotland. It was a privilege to spend a little time with you x

Jane McKellar

11 June 2026

Rest peacefully, Rachel. Your spirit, kindness, and courage will never be forgotten xo

Phil and Sophia

11 June 2026

Kia ora Rachel, kia ora koutou whānau and friends of Rachel. So sorry to hear that we have lost you Rachel. The memory of your friendly smile and and beautiful soul will last forever.

Peter Beaver

10 June 2026

My beautiful aunty Rachel, may you rest in everlasting paradise auntie, you were such a kind, warm hearted and welcoming person to everyone, always smiling and laughing, still remember the awesome road trip up north with you and uncle Syd, will cherish that memory forever. Rest in love aunty Rachel

Marrick & Liana

10 June 2026

Aunty Rachel. May you rest with the most high beautiful lady. I have very few memories with you, but every time i had an encounter with you it was always a warm welcoming kind aura felt. Thank you for giving Uncle Sid so much joy in his life and blessing him with 3 beautiful Taonga. Your memories will always live on through us all especially your tamariki xo Nui te aroha Aunty

LaQuita, Isaia & Kiwākoloa Aholelei

10 June 2026

E te tuahine, e te whanaunga, e rere ana a roimata i te rongo kua riro koe. E mihi ana Te Taura Whiri, e mihi ana te reo Māori i ō mahi nui. Kua mutu te rongo a te tinana i te mamae e hika. E okioki koe ki ō tāua tīpunai te rangimārie me te aroha.

Ngahiwi Apanui

10 June 2026

Very sad news. Rachel was one of the kindest people I have known. She has left this world too early. My condolences to Rachel's whanau.

Melanie Yalden

10 June 2026

I had the privilege to work with Rachel during the Colmar days. You will be sorely missed Rachel. May your beautiful soul rest in peace.May God give your whānau lots of strength and love.

Divya

9 June 2026

Beautiful Rachel… May your gentle soul rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences to your whanau and all who loved you. We are all better people from having known you. Xxxxxxx

Christine Mills

9 June 2026

Our sincere sympathy to Rachel Mary's family especially to Sid and children. "Eternal rest grant unto her oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her, may she rest in peace, Amen " Carlos and Vilma Arcos

Carlos Arcos and family - Chelsea colleague

9 June 2026

It was an absolute privilege to have met you, Rachel - such a beautiful soul with so much strength to have kept pushing through this battle for some time; absolutely one of a kind and you will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to Sid, the boys and the wider family as they navigate this immense loss.

Lauren Kenyon (Harbour)

9 June 2026

To Rachel's whānau, All the love and support in the world to you. Rachel was a singular person - a bright light in the lives of everyone she engaged with. It is a testament to her remarkable character that dedications to her are rolling in from all over the world. I am based in Singapore, and while I only worked with Rachel a few times, her presence left a marked imprint upon me. I will miss her deeply, as we all will. Condolences to you all. Rob

Rob McPhedran

9 June 2026

To Rachel’s whānau, My deepest condolences to her husband, boys, and all who loved her. I knew Rachel through Colmar and will always remember her as smart, supportive, bubbly and full of warmth. She had a genuine ability to make people feel seen and valued. Seeing so many people come together to honour her was a powerful reminder of how deeply she was loved and the light she brought into so many. My thoughts and prayers are with her. May she rest in peace. I hope her whānau find comfort in the love, memories, and legacy she leaves behind. Cassey De Castro

9 June 2026

It is an honour to have known Rachel as part of the Colmar work family. She brought a genuine warmth in her engagement with others and has a lovely way of making people feel seen and heard. She is a joy to work with, remembering with fondness the pleasant conversations where she always leaves a feel-good vibes even in those brief chats and interactions. Thoughts and prayers to your family. May overwhelming peace and comfort engulf you at this time and all the happy memories you shared embrace you, strengthen you and sustain you.

Marie Laurino

9 June 2026

Rest in love and light dear Rachel. I have so many fond memories of working together many years ago. Sending much aroha to your whānau x

Coralee Fitzgibbon

9 June 2026

I was so sad to hear of Rachel’s passing - she was a light for everyone who knew her. I first met Rachel when working at Māori Television, where we instantly connected, and then again very recently at Foundation North. No matter what challenges she faced, she always approached things in a positive, optimistic way. Her highly valued input into our work at Foundation North was deeply appreciated, as was the significant contribution she made at Māori Television where she was able to show the positive impact Whakaata Māori has on the revitalisation of te reo Māori – groundbreaking research, and something Whakaata Māori will treasure always. I feel privileged to have known her. Aroha nui ki te whānau - my thoughts are with her husband, tamariki and wider whānau.

Coral Palmer

9 June 2026

I met Rachel for the first time many years ago at one of my first work presentations, where she introduced herself and helped calm my nerves. I then recently worked with Rachel while at Verian. Rachel always brought such amazing energy and positivity to every aspect of her work. When Rachel was in the room, the room just felt different. She will be missed by us all.

Andrew Robertson

9 June 2026

Rachel was such a genuinely kind, bright and gracious wahine who touched the lives of many people, including myself, who had the privilege of working with her. Every time we caught up in the more recent years, her eyes would sparkle so bright whenever I asked about her boys and Sid, who she was always so incredibly proud of. My deepest condolences to all her whanau and friends during this terribly sad time, my thoughts are with you all.

Emily Bing

9 June 2026

Our beautiful girl Rachel, we are all going to miss you so very much. We hold so many special memories and it has been a privilege to share in the many qualities you carried so naturally, your humility, your care, your brightness and positivity, and the way you brought us all along with such grace, always with a smile and that hearty laugh. I’m going to miss those moments especially through the school and that lovely spontaneous grown up catch up with Lynette last year for a cheeky vino for my birthday that now feels like such a treasured moment. Our kōrero were always filled to the brim, always starting with the kids, then the rest of the whānau happenings and of course we always found time to talk fashion. New trends, old trends making a comeback and laughing about how we must be getting old because everything was starting to repeat itself. Sending so much aroha to Sid, Kahika, Billy, Wini, Mary, Morris and all the whānau who loved you dearly. Until we meet again, beautiful girl. Rest in love and light. Moe mai rā.

Sarah Thorpe

8 June 2026

So sorry to hear of the sad passing of Rachel. She was always so bright and bubbly in the Colmar office and has often been part of my great (and of course fun!) memories of working there in Takapuna. My deepest sympathies to all of Rachel's family and close friends.

Charlotte Smithies (Brock)

8 June 2026

Our hearts are broken. Our boys were connected through many firsts. Rach and Sid's love and involvement in school and football enabled our families to connect with Mo and Mary. We will miss her cheers and encouragement on the sidelines and we will never forget her loving spirit she displayed and passed onto her 3 beautiful boys. We will wrap you and your wider family in love and prayers through this very difficult and sad time. All our love

David, Lynette, Nate and Lucy France

8 June 2026

Rachel was a breath of fresh air, a gentle power-house and the epitome of grace. I loved working with Rachel at Māori Television and stalked her several times to try and convince her to join us at TVNZ - her in-depth mātauranga, breadth of experience and spidey senses made her a secret weapon wrapped up in such a beautiful human. I’m so very sad to hear of her passing - aroha atu ki te whānau pani 💔 Moe mai rā e te māreikura - you can rest easy now Rach xx

Nevak Rogers

8 June 2026

Very sad to hear of Rachael's passing. Such a lovely, kind person, always had a chat in the office. Deepest condolences to Rachael's family.

Carol Horne

8 June 2026

Aue e hoa ka nui te mamae. We were all so very sad to hear this news. Your valuable contribution to our reo Māori kaupapa at Te Taura Whiri is so appreciated. Moe mai rā e te wahine toa. Ka nui te aroha ki te whānau pani.

Paula Mato - Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori

8 June 2026

Thinking of you all as you say goodbye to Rachael. There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone you love so dearly, but we hope you find strength in each other and comfort in the many memories you shared together. Sending our love and deepest sympathies to you all. McQuay Whanau

McQuay whanau

8 June 2026

Moe mai rā Rachel. Rest in love. Our deepest condolences, aroha and tautoko to Kahika, Wiremu, Winitana, Hirini, Morehu and whānau. Ngā manaakitanga, Leef whānau.

Tuhi Leef

8 June 2026

Oh Rach, moe mai rā e hoa. All my aroha and thoughts to Sid, those beautiful tamariki and all of her whānau. I had the absolute privilege of working with Rach at Whakaata Māori, and not only was she an absolute expert in her field, she carried herself with such grace and humility. She was so kind and generous, and I always walked away from our interactions feeling loved. You will be so dearly missed e hoa.

Krissi Holtz

8 June 2026

My darling Rachel, I truly thought we had more time. To Sid and whānau, my deepest aroha and condolences. Rachel and I worked together for many years during her time at Māori Television, and our friendship and mahi continued long after. Her contribution to our sector was insightful, thoughtful, and invaluable. She gave so much of herself to the work, always with wisdom, generosity, and grace. Her friendship to me, and to so many of us at Whakaata Māori, was warm, genuine, and beautiful. Moe mai rā e hoa. Thank you for your friendship and the aroha you shared so gorgeously. Kia aroha nui.

Keeley Sander

8 June 2026

I am so sad to hear of the passing of beautiful Rachel. We worked together at CB years back when I was only 17. She was always so kind and friendly and i don’t know if i ever saw her without a smile on her face. Life can be so cruel sometimes. Thinking of you all who were close to her at this very sad time.

Lauren Barrows

8 June 2026

Rachel was one of those special people whose smile could light up a room. During the years I worked with her, her warmth, kindness, and genuine care made a lasting impression on me. She had a wonderful way of making people feel valued and welcomed, and her presence always made our workplace a better place to be. Rachel’s positive spirit and great sense of humour made her someone we genuinely wanted to spend more time with. It was a privilege to have known and worked with her. My thoughts are with you all at this very sad time.

Linda Moore

8 June 2026

Sending my deepest condolences to the bro sid and his family. I got to know Sid at work. Where he has always spoke highly off his wife Rachel and their kids. Always showed the love and passion about his family when ever he talked about them. I know Rachel had a heart off gold like Sid and their kids and like her dad Mr Pita. Who we all got to know from all the years as a care taker at Beachaven primary school. We are thinking of you all and our thoughts are with you(Sid) and the family during this difficult time. Wishing you all comfort and peace in the days a head. From myself(john) and Whanau.

John Nanai (Chelsea Sugar)

8 June 2026

It is with deep sadness to hear of Rachel’s passing. A truly remarkable wahine with a rare gift of being able to bring happiness with a smile, a gentle touch, a ‘how are you’ or a hug. Her beauty, warmth, compassion and kindness was genuine, true and deeply enriching. It was an honour and privilege to have known her. To her precious boys, her life-partner and whānau, Rachel was loved by many and there are no words that can express the sorrow of such a loss. Kua whetūrangitia koe.

Donna Wellington

8 June 2026

I never met you Rachel, but I have the honour of knowing Sid. His love for you and your children shone through his life. It is truly a blessing to be loved and to have loved in return. You were abundantly blessed in this.

Tony Grant

8 June 2026

A beautiful sole taken way too soon. Rachel I was blessed to have worked with you at CB. I loved working with you and sharing our laughs and giggles. You are one very special wahine.

Jude Fippard (Fagan)

8 June 2026

Thinking of you all during this incredibly difficult time. Rachel’s courage was an inspiration to us all, and her dedication to our school community, and above all, to her beautiful family, will never be forgotten. Winitana, Charlie, and Billy, please know that your St Mary’s family is standing right beside you, wrapping you in our love and prayers. Sidney, we hold you and the boys close in our hearts. Rachel’s legacy of warmth and service lives on in her children, and she will be deeply missed. Moe mai rā i te rangimārie. St Mary’s School Whānau

St Mary's School

8 June 2026

My heart feels heavy hearing the news of Rachel’s passing. Working alongside Rach was a true privilege—she brought light, dedication, understanding, and kindness to everything we did, making every project better. I’m so grateful to have been part of Rach's work journey, even in a small way, and for the encouragement, respect, and support she gave me, which continue to shape my confidence. Her strength during her painful battle and her warm spirit continue to inspire me. To me, she was full of life—kind, caring, and incredibly supportive. You will be profoundly missed, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family during this heartbreaking time. Rest in peace, Rachel.

Fana Therattil

8 June 2026

To the loved ones of beautiful Rachel - I’m so devastated for your loss. I worked with Rachel for many years at Colmar and am so sad to hear of her passing. We spent a lot of time together in our 20’s and 30’s. Oh the fun we had! Those are times I cherish so much and will never forget. What a special woman she was. The most beautiful and caring person. I never heard anyone ever say a bad word about Rachel… how could they? She was truly good. The best of humans and a rare gem. My thoughts are with you all at this incredibly sad time.

Jackie Ellis

8 June 2026

I was deeply saddened to hear of Rachel's passing. I worked with Rachel at Colmar Brunton for a few years, more than a decade ago. As a researcher and a scripter, we collaborated on many projects together. I always appreciated her professionalism, thoughtful approach, and the positive energy she brought to her work. She was someone who made collaboration easy and enjoyable, and her dedication to delivering quality work always stood out. Although it has been many years since we last worked together, I still remember Rachel warmly. She left a lasting impression on me, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside her. My heartfelt condolences to Rachel's family, friends, and former colleagues. She will be remembered with great respect and fondness.

Christy Chen

8 June 2026

Such sad news. Working with her was a privilege. One if the nicest and easy to get along with people ever. Will be missed.

Harry Boorman

7 June 2026

My heart is broken Rachy. Thank you forever for everything, as student peers, as friends, as flatmates, as colleagues, as friends miles apart but always in heart. I already miss your laugh and your smile, but take comfort that they feature in so many fond memories over the last almost 25 years. The last time we met, you were such a wonderful support at a time I needed it and I'm beyond sad that that was our last time. All my aroha to your beautiful whanāu, your most beautiful boys, your most wonderful Sid. Rest well my darling.

Emma Eichbaum

7 June 2026

Rest in Love beautiful Wahine toa, beautiful in heart, soul and everything you were. It was an absolute honor to have known you, one of the good ones taken far too soon. Much aroha to your Whānau. Rest in eternal love my beautiful friend ❤️❤️

Vivienne Savage

7 June 2026

To my beautiful Rach, you hold a special place in my heart, I first met you when we worked for Colmar Brunton, and soon became flatmates and besties for ever. No matter we we were in life, we always kept in touch and could just pick up where we left off. To Sid, the boys, Mary and Morris and the whanau my deepest condolences, Rach was so admired and had so many people who just loved her so much for her kindness and beautiful heart. I will miss her so much.

Jenny Elliott

7 June 2026

"There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains." Remembering Rach-a truly wonderful ex-colleague and a beautiful friend who was lovely inside and out. It is heartbreaking to say goodbye to someone so young, with so much life left to live. My deepest condolences and love go to her husband, her three young boys, and her family. May you find strength in the beautiful legacy of love and kindness she leaves behind. Rest in peace.

Mickayla Miller