Porirua farewells Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi after sudden death

The mayor of Porirua says the councillors are working together to fill the gaps left by the sudden death of Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi.

Wihapi died after a fall at her home last weekend. She was 45 years old.

A funeral service was being held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday following her laying in state for two days of evening services and poroporoaki at Horouta Marae this week.

Intent focus on her community

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said she was first struck by Wihapi's determination when she heard her speak about the impact of the construction of Transmission Gully in 2015.

"She came and spoke to council and it was like 'wow, who was this lady?'.

"She was so entrenched in what was right for her community, the safety for her kids, the noise for other residents and we went 'wow, she'd be a great councillor'," Baker said.

Wihapi would run and be elected to council the following year.

Baker said, even as she rose to deputy mayor, Wihapi's focus remained firmly on her community.

"She was so busy concentrating on everything else, she wasn't worried about herself.

"I'd say 'you have to wear the chains to this event because it's a civic thing that I need you to fill in for me' and it would be 'where'd she put them' because she never liked to wear them.

"She wasn't about the chains, it was about what she could do for people," Baker said.

Councillor Geoff Hayward was appointed to take over from Wihapi as deputy mayor on Thursday.

Baker said the decision to put Hayward forward came from discussions with Wihapi as she planned in advance for an overseas trip earlier in the year.

She said councillors were working together to fill the gaps left by Wihapi's absence at local events and meetings.

"We're all here for each other and we can say different things in the chambers, but when we leave, we're one family. So we had planned our Christmas do and the pet food drive and we will keep doing those things because Kylie would want us to do them.

"We just have to continue on doing the things that she was really passionate about, which was children, dogs, harbour, everything in her name.

"I'll miss her dearly but, as she said to me 'the play must go on'," Baker said.

Tub thumping passion

Newly announced Deputy Mayor Geoff Hayward said he and Wihapi bonded over their concerns about puppy farming and animal welfare in the area about seven years ago.

He said she was adamant that dogs should not be the ones to suffer when their owners were unable to keep up with their responsibilities.

"I remember her just being so proactive, [her] tub-thumping passion in that council chamber," Hayward said.

He said Wihapi would lead by example, drawing people into an issue or a cause simply by her desire to "lend a hand' and motivating others to do likewise.

"She reminds me of my mum because she had this real bullshit detector.

"Her eyes would roll whenever she would hear someone going on about something that she didn't agree with.

"She would be very firm in her view [and] never take a step back, but also gave everybody the chance to have their say," Hayward said.

Hayward said he was struck by Wihapi's charm as she chatted to people while the two councillors wrapped Christmas presents for the Rotary Club at Porirua's North City mall.

"She just had a wonderful way of being able to just throw the world's brightest sun bulb on that person and shower them with aroha, just wanting to hear about their lives.

"That's the kind of person you want to hang around with," Hayward said.

Approachable, vibrant and engaging

Founder and CEO of animal welfare group Helping You Help Animals (HUHA) Carolyn Press-McKenzie, described Wihapi as "a whirlwind of passion".

Press-McKenzie said she first met Wihapi when she and Hayward took an interest in her organisation's efforts to build a shelter just beyond the city about five years ago.

"She's somebody you'd want to be friends with. Just incredibly approachable, vibrant, very, very friendly [and] very engaging.

"She just had that infectious personality where she thought we all needed to do better and, with her, you wanted to do better as well," Press-McKenzie said.

She said Wihapi appeared "unstoppable" and it was hard to come to terms with the loss of someone with so much to give.

"We need good people in the world. We need the people who are going to champion whanau and animals and help everyone get things right.

"The community in New Zealand have lost someone who was truly making a tangible difference," Press-McKenzie said.

A 'formidable force' who could move mountains

Speaker for Horouta Marae Raniera Albert said Wihapi was a consistent presence at the marae and regularly attended events, tangi and celebrations.

Albert competed unsuccessfully against Wihapi last year for the role of Māori ward. Wihapi was campaigning for a second term after becoming Porirua's first Māori Ward councillor in 2022.

But Albert said it was the process of campaigning against each other that brought the two more closely together.

"Kylie went out of her way to make contact with me, given that this was my first local elections campaign, to help guide me, provide me sound advice [and] to be a trusted mentor for me," Albert said.

He said he was struck by her steadfast commitment that, regardless of who won the role, the main priority was to "elevate the Māori voice" in the district.

Albert said behind Wihapi's friendly manner and bright smile lay a "formidable force".

"She could move mountains, she could move streams, she could move anything that she put her mind to.

"Regardless of the event, regardless of the kaupapa, anybody was invited to approach Kylie," he said.

"She made herself available no matter the time, no matter the hour, no matter who you were. Whether you're from the richest families or from the poorest."

Albert said both of the candidates' families grew close and he fondly recalled her sharp sense of humour.

"She was a very good laugh. She had humour ranging from all levels, from the nicest of humours to the darkest of humours, and that's just what made Kylie unique in all ways."

He said her loss would leave "a massive hole" in the lives of those closest to her as well as the community.

"It's a word that is merely slipped off the lips, but Kylie has earned that right to be called a rangatira.

"Kylie has worked so hard for her community, for her constituency, for her whanau," he said.

Wihapi leaves behind her husband Adam, son Cooper, stepchildren Arama and Josh as well as parents Marlene and Rob and siblings Leon, Ariana and Cole.

"She leaves a massive hole in her whanau. The entire family will be feeling the weight and the burden of what the next chapter in this life would entail.

"Kylie was an amazing person and so where that leaves Porirua? That is for the next chapter to find out," Albert said.