Meredith STOKDIJK Obituary

I am very sorry for your loss. Meredith was a lovely person. Intelligent, interested in the world and interesting, a kind person with a dry sense of humour, a caring friend. I will miss her very much.

I am deeply shocked and saddened to learn Meredith has been taken from us - too early, too young. From MFAT I have worked with Meredith over the past 14 years. She was generous with her time, her guidance, her intellect. An unassuming, dry witted, incredible negotiator that we could all rely on completely. She was patient and kind when I first started, fresh out of uni and knowing nothing about SPS negotiations, I will always appreciate her guidance. I deeply admired her style and her intellect - one of the best. Rest in peace my friend.

I worked with Meredith over a number of years and she during that time, and still now, stands out as one of the most honest, intelligent, empathetic and kindest people I know. Meredith, we shared many books, many CDs, and so many stories while we worked together. Gone far too soon. Dance on, read on, and know that you made a difference to so many.

I had the pleasure of working with Meredith over the last year as the NZ secondee to the Asian Development Bank Board. As others have said, Meredith's huge intellect shone through everything she did. I really valued her rigorous policy analysis and direct style in cutting through issues and making her views very clear! We achieved some really positive outcomes with higher development finance for Pacific countries as a result of Meredith's work at MFAT. Colleagues at the ADB in Manila and Sydney were shocked and saddened to hear the news and have asked me to extend their deep condolences to Meredith's family. Such a loss.

Meredith was also an amazing aunty to 5 children, she always kept in contact even though she was extremly busy and didnt live in the same town, she always wanted to know what they were up to in their lives and how they were doing, she never forgot a birthday and made time to visit them and take them out, meredith the kids will never forget you and will always have wonderful memories.

Meredith and I worked in the same team at MAF for many years, as fellow managers for a while, and then as Principal Advisers. We all respected Meredith hugely. Such a huge brain! A wonderfully dry humour. She brought incredible commitment, drive, passion and work ethic to everything she did for the benefit of New Zealand, her colleagues, and her team. Meredith was a core part of many positive outcomes for New Zealand in both trade and climate change.
You will be missed Meredith! I can't believe you're gone. Your memory will live on and we will always remember and honour the amazing impact you had.

I can say with complete honesty that I learnt more in the short, pithy, in-depth conversations I had with Meredith, than I ever have with anybody.

I worked with Meredith when she was at MPI and I was working on biodiversity issues at MFAT. I will never forget our first CBD meeting together in Rome. The negotiations were difficult and often dragged on into the early hours of the morning. Time after time, when things were particularly fraught, Meredith would come up with brilliant solutions that broke the impasse between developed and developing countries, and moved things forward. Thanks for the memories and the laughs. Rest in peace dear friend.

I worked with Meredith in several contexts over the course of many years while I was at MFAT and she was in MPI, then was very pleased to see her join us at MFAT a couple of years ago. So sorry to hear this very sad news today. She was a great colleague, with a vivid personality. Gone too soon.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Meredith’s death. Meredith was a valued colleague and peer of mine since we started working together on trade, environment and agricultural issues in the mid-1990s. When I left the Ministry fo Foreign Affairs and Trade and rejoined the OECD Secretariat she always made time to catch up with me when she was travelling through the OECD for her meetings - a kindness I never forgot. Her sharp analytical skills and ability to call out cant and hypocrisy made her a formidable and appreciated colleague at many international meetings. We worked together at various WTO Ministerials (Hong Kong et al) where her magisterial grip on policy issues always made a difference. Her commitment to New Zealand and her work ethic to that end was prodigious. She did our country proud. Meredith used to claim she was ‘always learning’ - something I found hard to believe since she seemed to pretty much know everything as far as I could tell. And she and I enjoyed a similar sense of humour and perspective on the world that I always valued. Mind you, she and I did disagree at times - for instance, I never understood her determination to master law! And impressively she did this in her spare time. For my part more directly, I always appreciated the time she made for us to catch up for a monthly coffee to chat about how we each saw the world. I will miss those discussions Meredith but I will remember them and you. - - we remember her and we won’t forget her. Vangelis Vitalis

Meredith was my manager at MPI for a couple of years. I enjoyed her dry sense of humour and respected her fierce intelligence. She was a supportive leader and a kind hearted one too. I knew she had my back which gave me the confidence to do my job well, especially important to me as I was working part time and raising my young children at the time. I'm grateful to have known Meredith and to have had the chance to work with her. RIP Meredith you made a big impression on me.

I am honored to have known Meredith. I worked with Meredith at MPI and MFAT - such a wonderful person. Will miss her. My most heartfelt condolences to her family.

I am sadded to hear the passing of this wonderful women. I worked with her at MPI for a number of years.
It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.
Shine bright in the night sky Meredith, you will be missed, but always remember.

Another wonderful soul has left this earthly life too early.
Jane used to call her Sibil and in my mind Meredith will always be Sibil.
Many deep and heartfelt condolences to all from us all here.
Debbie, Cory, Joshua and Matthew.

So very sorry for your loss. I worked with Meredith at MPI and she was a wonderful person, full of life, intelligent and very good to me.

Nick amd Gerritdiva I need to say how sad I am to read of Merediths passing loved growing up from intermediate with both Jane and Meredith please know this that I'm thinking of u both at this heartbteaking time...Meredith was like the big sister that I never had and have many memories of her to cherish.... Much love and prayers Marijka Steenwijk xx

Mijn welgemeende condoleances met het verlies van Meredith. Heel veel sterkte toegewenst!