Weak heart did not hamper Samoan 'legend'

By SCOTT KARA

Tom Papali'i knew his heart was weak but it never stopped him from putting his energy and soul into stemming the violence in Mangere township.

His presence will be missed, as well as his community work which, among other things, was dedicated to helping Pacific Islanders adapt to New Zealand.

Mr Papali'i died of a heart attack while attending church on April 9. His funeral will be held today at the Mangere Pacific Island Presbyterian Church at 11 am.

His son, Manukau City councillor James Papali'i, said his father had battled heart problems for more than 15 years. But in the past five months the 69-year-old still patrolled Mangere's dreaded central carpark on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Mangere police say the presence of Mr Papali'i and a group of Pacific Island elders and Maori wardens was one of the main reasons violence was virtually non-existent around Mangere shops last summer.

The fight to halt violence in the town centre was prompted by the vicious beating of Fatu Aiono in the carpark last July.

Mr Papali'i, other Pacific Island elders, Maori wardens, community groups, gang members, police and the city council met, and as a result four lights were installed to illuminate the area.

Three nights a week, Mr Papali'i patrolled the carpark, watching over the young people there and telling those drinking to move on.

Malcolm Miller, acting senior sergeant at Mangere police station, said the huge drop in violent crime had a lot to do with the respect and presence Mr Papali'i had in the community.

Mr Papali'i arrived in New Zealand in 1954 in one of the first wave of Islanders seeking a better life.

"Dad used to joke with us kids that he came on a banana boat and now they come in planes," said James Papali'i.

His father first lived in Mt Eden, marrying his wife, Coralie, in 1956.

The family's early years were spent in Otara. In 1968, they moved to a rural-looking Mangere, where Siniva, James, Donna and Ruth Papali'i did most of their growing up.

Mr Papali'i worked as a printer at UEB Packaging in Panmure for 19 years, then at Wiri's Ford motor vehicle plant until 1987, when heart problems forced him to retire.

That was when he began community work and started the Fesoasoani Trust to help Pacific people.

His strong links to his Samoan ancestry made him the ideal person to coach Pacific people about New Zealand culture.

"Dad is the great, great grandson of the King Malietoa Vaiinupo," said James Papali'i.

Malietoa was the king who accepted Christianity from John Williams, the first missionary to visit Samoa.

"That's why it's ironic that Dad died in the church. He came back to his seat and everybody stood up to sing but he didn't. That's when he passed away.

"He died suddenly but peacefully at church after his prayer."