Otangarei kaumatua Jim Wells, known as Papa Jim to those who loved him, was a man who always had time for people and loved helping youth.
On Tuesday night he died at his home aged 82. His daughter-in-law, Cherie Wells, said Mr Wells had lived in Otangarei for 52 yearsand was a pou for the community.
"He worked alongside community police, probation and youth. He absolutely loved working with youth and wanted them to do well. He helped them get into trades and they absolutely adored him," said Mrs Wells.
"They'd always go to him when they needed help, he had a way of looking at things and picking things out, turning them upside down and when he was finished he'd get an idea and know a way around [the problem]."
Mr Wells served as chairman of Otangarei's Te Kotahitanga Marae for many years. Mrs Wells said her father-in-law welcomed change in Otangarei and was a man who always found time to listen to people.
Mr Wells loved spending time outside in his garden. He was a man who persevered and Mrs Wells said he continued to do that up until his final hours.
"He had been in hospital and had asked to go home. They took him home by ambulance and he was on a stretcher and they couldn't quite get it inside. He said 'I'll walk' and everyone was saying 'no Dad, you can't', he said 'I'll walk'. It was like a jog because he was going so fast, by the time he was in bed he was out of breath. That was big for him and two-and-a-half hours later he died," she said.
Mr Wells has been lying in state at Te Kotahitanga Marae, Otangarei but will be taken to Te Reo Mihi Marae in Te Hapua today.
