Champion of lakes, land and people lost
‘Irreplaceable' community stalwart Willie Emery dies peacefully
This past week
has been incredibly eyeopening with the masses of
people who have come to farewell our
Koro. Willie Emery’s moko
Willie Emery, a stalwart for Rotorua’s lakes, land and people, has died, and is said to have left a lasting legacy behind. On Sunday, William Emery, known to most as Willie, died peacefully in Tauranga Hospital, aged 75.
He was a husband, a father, grandfather, a great-grandfather, friend, a teammate, a leader.
Loved ones have described him as a man with knowledge, a big heart, and enthusiasm.
The man with a love of the land, the lakes, the rugby, and the people will be arriving in the arms of the woman he loved the most, who he lost more than a decade ago.
His moko remember him as a big dreamer, hard worker, and a pillar of support. And now, after his passing, they are coming to realise how many lives he touched, they said in a collective statement.
“This past week has been incredibly eye-opening with the masses of people who have come to farewell our Koro.”
It has been just under 11 years since the wha¯nau lost Winnie, Willie’s wife.
“Although he has left us, he will be arriving into the arms of the woman he loves most,” his moko said.
“This chapter in our lives has ended, we are grateful to say that we were more than loved by both our grandparents.”
Loved ones farewelled Willie at his tangi yesterday at Taurua Marae.
Willie’s son, Wiremu Emery, remembers his dad’s big heart, strong opinions, wisdom, love of the Rotoiti Rugby Club, and dedication to everything a a he did. Wiremu said his father’s achievements and his helping hand to others was a strong legacy.
Without him, he said, the family would no longer have his knowledge and input — they would no longer get the advice they were used to getting.
“We valued his input . . . he always had a lot to say.”
However, Wiremu said they were now able to approach situations by taking a step back, “and think about what he would say”.
While Willie Emery had a lot to say, he spoke with open eyes and an open heart, his son remembered.
This was woven into all areas of his father’s life with several land trusts, and communities.
Wiremu said his dad’s experience and understanding of the land and the lakes meant his opinion was held in high regard.
He remembered Willie’s love of club rugby, particularly the Rotoiti Rugby Club for which he first played in 1959, and remembered growing up watching the continual hard work behind the scenes.
And now, the memories have “come full circle” as he walked in his father’s footsteps, now chairman of the same club his father once headed and starting to get more involved in the community.
“Trying to do the best for us as a community, that sums him up,” Wiremu said.
And he was glad his father was able to see the man he was becoming.
“I spoke to him last week and he thanked me for the hard work I’m doing for the Rotoiti club and how proud he was of me . . . I got a bit tearyeyed and thanked him.
“He’s going to be sorely missed by a lot of people.”
Willie Emery had served on Te Arawa Land Trust since 1983, and two years later began a stint on Te Arawa
Ma¯ori Trust Board, lasting till 2007.
During his time on Te Arawa Ma¯ ori Trust Board, Willie Emery helped navigate the lakes settlement with the Crown. He was then appointed to the current Te Arawa Lakes Trust in 2007.
He was a past chairman of Te Ru¯nanga o Nga¯ti Pikiao, Te Papa Ta¯karo o Te Arawa and Te Kotahitanga o Te Arawa Fisheries and served on many other Nga¯ti Pikiao land trusts and incorporations.
In a post on social media, Te Arawa Lakes Trust said it was “with the heaviest of hearts”
Willie’s passing.
On Sunday it posted a tribute: “Ka tanuku, ka tanuku
Te tihi o Matawhau ka tanuku. Te keho o te marama ka whati. Ka whati taku manu kotuku te huia no¯ ...”
“Willie Emery was renowned for his knowledge of traditional Tau Ko¯ ura and we are blessed to carry this ma¯ tauranga of traditional monitoring of our ko¯ura within our Te Arawa Lakes,” the post read.
“Willie was the first to laugh and the first to challenge, with an unwavering focus on building our team
it had heard of