With her strong desire and enthusiasm to continue supporting the people of Tutakimoa and their land, Mareana Papera-Howard was elected as the new Pu Tapere.

The 59-year-old who was elected on February 17 this year says a meeting was held on that day for the official election with about 20 individuals present.

To her surprise, she was chosen as the Pu Tapere, the head of Tutakimoa. Papera-Howard is a landowner and owns the land where the Tutakimoa meeting house is currently undergoing renovations.

She fought hard to reclaim her family land, where the meeting house is located, in order to support the community of Tutakimoa and to unite everyone, regardless of differing beliefs.

Despite interest in the land from other family members, Papera-Howard chose to seek legal counsel to create an injunction to ensure that those opposing the idea of leaving the land as how it was could not interfere with the meeting house and the land itself.

“We were the ones trying to stop the land owners going on to the land. To leave it as how our grandfather did.

 “To just leave it for the community. It was given back to us, but we went against it and told them no. Because that land has been gifted to the community by our grandfather for the meeting house and the clinic.”

To ensure the meetinghouse land remained available for the village, Papera-Howard fought against her family members for the right to preserve the land.

She ultimately won her case and became the Pu Tapere of Tutakimoa, a role that was awarded to her for her hard work, determination, and commitment.

There were many disagreements and conflicts between the Tutakimoa Ekalesia and the Tapere(village) due to their differences.

However, Papera-Howard is committed to bringing everyone together to form unity amongst the community, she stood up and accepted the role of the Pu Tapere to help everyone work together despite their differences, and so far, it has been good.

“That’s why I came to the meeting. There's one Body, the Ekalesia including the Tapere, to work together, just to reunite everybody.” Papera-Howard said.

As a Pu Tapere, Papera-Howard is expected to work with the community, bring peace to the people, and bring back old works of uniting everyone to an equal understanding, she is proud to honour this role.

The Tutakimoa community received $127,000 funding therefore the work of renovating the meeting house immediately went into action from last year.

Papera-Howard’s first project for the community is completing the renovation of the meeting house to hold functions, meetings or other events.

After the meeting house project is completed, she will focus on working towards the Tutakimoa Clinic.

She is grateful for the support she received from her husband, her family, and those who elected and had faith in her to become the Pu Tapere regardless of her medical condition.

She acknowledges those who have fully supported her and will continue to do so for days to come.

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