Obituary: The humble watercress picker of Flaxmere

Tom 'Pups' Mansell was a well-loved member of the Flaxmere community. Photo / Supplied

OBITUARY: Well-known Flaxmere watercress and pūhā picker Tom "Pups" Mansell died on December 29, aged 71.

The Flaxmere resident known to his community as Pups was the go-to for anyone wanting watercress or pūhā.

Mansell had been picking them throughout Hawke's Bay since he moved to the region from Rotorua with his wife Colleen and their three children in 1978.

He began his watercress days supplying a hāngī shop in Hastings.

From there word got out about the watercress and Mansell started to sell to a large number of people in Hawke's Bay and throughout New Zealand.

He would also donate the produce for unveilings and tangi in the community.

Tom was known in the Flaxmere community for his watercress and puha. Photo / Supplied

"He would even have people from Brisbane calling months in advance who wanted to purchase some when they came to New Zealand," wife Colleen Mansell said.

He sold the watercress and pūhā at the couple's home in Flaxmere. There was no official business name or website - "everybody just knew they could get their watercress here," Colleen said.

"He was the Flaxmere community watercress picker, everyone knows Tom (Pups) Mansell," Paora Pohatu, a family friend, said.

He was dedicated to providing the watercress to people "far and wide".

"If someone came and bought the watercress in the morning, he would go back out picking to get more for the people in the afternoon," Colleen said.

Tributes posted on Facebook remember Tom and his watercress fondly. Community members refer to him as Pups, papa, uncle or mātua.

Tom and Colleen Mansell with a great grandchild. Photo / Supplied

"He was papa or Pups to everyone, no one really called him Tom," Colleen said.

Hastings District Councillor in the Flaxmere ward Henare O'Keefe hoped the community man would "rest well".

"The Tom 'Pups' Mansell's of this world provide a bridge of kindness and love, through the simple act of providing watercress.

"People like Tom are what communities are all about, humble never seeking notoriety with a gentle demeanour," O'Keefe said.

While Tom was whānau to much of the Flaxmere community he also had a large family with Colleen.

The couple had three children - Thomas and Della, and Rex, who passed away aged 35. He also had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, many of whom he helped raise.

Tom's watercress business will now be closed. Photo / Supplied

Tom also involved his mokopuna in the watercress business, often taking them picking with him.

"They were often his helpers, always helping to pick or carry the baskets," Colleen said.

"He taught me how to do everything," said oldest grandchild Sharee Mansell.

Tom and Colleen would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June this year.

Colleen said with a laugh that he was "a grumpy old bastard" who was an important part of the Flaxmere community and would be dearly missed by all who knew him.