Sign In / Register
March 1954 – April 2022
Warkworth chef Nea Harris, who is credited with starting the food service at the Warkworth RSA, was farewelled by a large crowd of family and friends recently. Among those paying their respects was RSA president Bob Harrison, who recalled Harris’ never-ending banter behind the bar/kitchen and her ability to relate to people from all walks of life. He also recognised the vital part she played in re-establishing the RSA kitchen after the Covid lockdowns. The Last Post was played in recognition of her contribution to the club over many decades.
Born in Australia, Harris was a keen athlete in her day and swam for New South Wales as a junior. Her father was in the Royal Australian Air Force, which meant that her childhood was spent in many difference places, including the base at Butterworth in Malaysia. Her passion for food came from her grandfather, who was also a chef. She started cooking at a young age and her first job was at the Black Swan Café in Canberra. Over many years, she mastered her trade working in kitchens and cafes learning the tastes and flavours of many cuisines.
In 1983, Harris and husband Glen moved to New Zealand to be closer to family and help with Glen’s ageing parents. Harris worked at many local eateries, including The Establishment (now the Warkworth Hotel), Bridgehouse Lodge, Captain’s Café Sandspit, Grumpy’s Steakhouse (at the Walton Park Motel) and the Salty Dog Inn. While working behind the bar at the RSA in the mid-1980s, she started bringing in sandwiches for customers whom she thought needed a bite to eat with their beers. Management then asked, “What else can you do?” and the in-house food service was born.
Harris had an 18-month stint away from Warkworth in the early 2000s, when she was asked to run the kitchen at the Pacific Resort in Rarotonga. Upon returning to NZ, she ran her own catering business and also teamed up with Frantastic Catering at the Warkworth Bowling Club. She provided food for many events and fundraisers over the years, including Warkworth Sister City events, National Party dinners, hospice, Waitemata Health and exchange student dinners.
She worked for the IHC for a time and later helped scores of these families by providing after school care. She had an open-door policy for more than 30 years touching the lives of many children in the area. Harris was described as a generous person, whose smile and sense of humour would be missed by many. Her chocolate cakes were said to be legendary, being in high demand for birthdays and fundraisers. Her interests outside cooking included swimming, knitting, reading, cribbage and breeding English Staffordshire bull terriers.
Harris passed away after a nine-month battle with cancer. She is survived by husband Glen, children Bradman, Tenaija, Rei, Olias, Inara and Keetah, and eight grandchildren.
