Porirua Community Mourns Sudden Death of Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi

Porirua gathered on Saturday to farewell Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi at a funeral service held at Te Rauparaha Arena following her sudden death from a fall at her home last weekend at age 45.

Porirua Remembers the Life and Legacy of Kylie Wihapi

The service followed two days of evening services and poroporoaki at Horouta Marae for the deputy mayor and Porirua’s inaugural Māori Ward councillor. Mayor Anita Baker recalled first meeting Wihapi in 2015 when she spoke passionately about the impacts of the Transmission Gully construction. Baker stated, She came and spoke to council and it was like ‘wow, who was this lady?’ and added that officials realized she’d be a great councillor. Wihapi subsequently ran for local office and won election the following year.

Baker noted that Wihapi rarely wore the chains, preferring direct community engagement over ceremonial titles. She wasn’t about the chains, it was about what she could do for people, Baker stated, noting that Wihapi was so busy concentrating on everything else that she never worried about herself.

Helping You Help Animals founder Carolyn Press-McKenzie described Wihapi as a whirlwind of passion who championed whānau and animal welfare. Hayward recalled Wihapi’s tub-thumping passion in the council chamber and mentioned that she had a real bullshit detector, noting, Her eyes would roll whenever she would hear someone going on about something that she didn’t agree with. Hayward also shared that while she was very firm in her view and never took a step back, she always gave everybody the chance to have their say.

Filling the Leadership Gap in the Porirua City Council Chambers

Municipal operations continue as council members absorb the responsibilities previously managed by Wihapi. Baker also shared that Wihapi had told her the play must go on.

Wihapi leaves behind her husband Adam, son Cooper, stepchildren Arama and Josh, and her parents and siblings.