Mere Mete Whaanga

Mere Mete Whaanga (February 15, 1848 - May 11, 1944) was a pioneer and missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in New Zealand. She was a leader of the Maori Ngati Kahungunu tribe and helped to spread the gospel in her area after being baptized by American missionaries.

Mere was born in Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand to parents Hachem Schmidt and Parapara Kurekure.:252 Her name is the Maori pronunciation of "Mary Smith".:252 At 21 years old, Mere married Hirini Te Rito Whaanga, an important leader of the Maori Ngutikahungu tribe. Mere was his third wife as he had been widowed twice before.:253 Together, the couple had three daughters and a son. However, one daughter and their son did not survive past childhood.:253

Conversion

In 1884, Mormon missionaries came to Hawke's Bay to share the gospel. Mere was touched by the missionaries' message and she convinced her family to meet with them. Her daughters were baptized first, and then Mere and her husband were baptized on November 30 by missionary John C. Stewart.:253 The Whaanga family were some of the first Maori tribe members to be baptized, and they were followed by more than 200 members of their tribe in several weeks.:253

Hirini and Mere quickly became very involved in church activity and missionary work. They built a rush house specifically for the missionaries and the Whaanga home became a center for LDS missionary work.:253 Hirini was branch president and Mere often consulted with the missionaries when difficulties arose in communicating with tribe members. She also prioritized missionary work and caring for the missionaries.

Move to Utah

On May 21, 1894, Hirini and Mere moved to Utah with a group of extended family members, leaving their children and parents in New Zealand.:256 Upon moving, Hirini and Mere ordered that their house in Nuhaka be used as a home for the missionaries.:256 The Whaanga family arrived in Salt Lake City on July 19 after making stops in Gisborne, New Zealand and San Francisco, California.:256–257 They made quite a spectacle on the streets as both Mere and her sister-in-law had "the traditional blue Maori facial tattoo (moko) on their lips and chins".:257 On the evening of their arrival, a reception was held for the Whaanga family by former New Zealand missionaries.:257 The reception included a dinner and traditional Maori music to make the family feel welcome.

About a week after arriving in Salt Lake, the Whaanga family traveled to Kanab, Utah, which would be the location of their residence.:258 Church leaders recommended Kanab as a better location for the family to live as the climate is not as cold as Salt Lake City in the winter. There Mere's husband planned to raise sheep, which had brought him much success in New Zealand.:258 However, the two returned missionaries that were assigned to help the Whaanga family with their financial affairs mismanaged their money.:258 The church sent leaders to Kanab to review the incident and eventually, the Zion's Maori Association helped Mere and her family relocate to Salt Lake City.:258

On October 9, 1895, Hirini and Mere were endowed and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.:258 The couple spent most of their free time doing ordinance work in the temple.:258 After relocating to Salt Lake, Mere learned to write in order to maintain frequent contact with her children and parents back in Nuhaka.:258

In 1907, only a year and a half after the passing of her husband, Mere returned to New Zealand to serve a full-time mission.:260 She was nearly 60 years old. She returned to America in 1908 after being released from mission duties.:261 Less than a decade later, her sister-in-law passed away, leaving her without much family in Utah. Mere's grandson and nephew who made the original trek out to Utah back in 1894 both decided to return to New Zealand. As a result, Mere decided to join them.:262

Later years

Although she enjoyed being with her family in Nuhaka, Mere had a desire to return to Salt Lake City. Ultimately, she wanted to be buried next to her late husband. After many years of waiting, Mere was issued a visa to return to the United States in 1938.:262

On November 21, 1938, a reception was held by community members in celebration of Whaanga's return to Salt Lake. Mere remained active in the Church into her old age. At 95 years old, Mere made a quilt for Church president Heber J. Grant. She made the quilt as a birthday gift, however it was in honor of her own birthday and not his.:262

Mere died on May 11, 1944 at the age of 96.:262 She was buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, next to her husband Hirini.:262