New Year Honours: Queen Service Medal for respected Te Puke minister and community leader

Reverend Rereamanu Wihapi from Te Puke has been awarded a QSM for services to Maori. Photo/Andrew Warner

By Sandra Conchie

Queen's Service Medal
Reverend Rereamanu [Manu] Wihapi's years of tireless work for his community have been acknowledged in the New Year Honours list.

The 81-year-old Te Puke-born respected kaumatua, community leader and educator of te reo Maori and tikanga has been awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to Maori.

Reverend Wihapi said he was humbled to be recognised in this way for something he got so much satisfaction from doing.

"I never expected this award and to be honest I'm a little bit embarrassed. I really enjoy working with people, and seeing them develop and advance to their full potential, including spiritually ... My three children and 12 mokopuna are very proud," he said.

Over the years, Reverend Wihapi has worn many hats.

He worked for Maori Affairs from 1956 to 1959 then after two attempts to train as a teacher, he spent about 35 years at NZ Post, including as Te Puke's branch manager.

He was ordained in 1994 as the minister in charge of the Maori missionary arm of Te Puke Anglican Church and he has devoted the rest of his life to the betterment of his people.

"My late mother, who died from breast cancer at age 42 when I was 6, was a staunch Christian. She always wanted me and my late brothers to become priests.

"My older brother and younger brother both were ordained priests before I was, and I just took a very different route and a lot longer to become one."

Reverend Wihapi is cultural adviser at three local schools including at Te Puke High School and has been chairman of Tapuika Iwi Kaumatua Council since 2002.

He has also been a trustee of the Tuhourangi Marae since 2007.

After losing his wife Muriaroha (Susan) to cancer seven years ago, Reverend Wihapi said he filled the huge gap she left by finding more ways to help his community.

He has an artificial left leg after a rugby injury when he was 14, but said he had no intention of hanging up his walking stick anytime soon.