Traci Te Paa, a 37-year-old mother from Wellington, tragically lost her life on Christmas Eve while saving her daughter and nephew from a rip at Waimamaku Beach in Northland. Despite resuscitation efforts, Te Paa could not be revived, leaving her family and friends mourning the loss of a courageous and selfless woman.
Emergency services responded to the incident at the remote beach around 1:20 PM. Te Paa, described by her close friend Rena Hartley-Stretch as a “wahine toa” (strong woman), demonstrated instinctive bravery by diving into the dangerous surf to rescue her loved ones.
“She wouldn’t have even thought twice. She would have just jumped in to save them,” says Hartley-Stretch, who was deeply shaken by the news. She described Te Paa as outgoing, confident, and a devoted mother of three with an “awesome heart.”
Te Paa’s familiarity with beaches in Wellington, such as Titahi Bay and Petone, had honed her confidence around water. However, the perilous conditions at Waimamaku Beach, known for its strong currents, posed too significant a challenge. A rāhui, or temporary cultural ban, was placed on the beach from Tuesday to Thursday to honour her passing.
Te Paa’s community and family will gather at Te Whakamaharatanga Marae, where her final farewells will be held on Monday. Friends and loved ones remember her as a hero, with Hartley-Stretch affirming, “She’ll be happy that she saved them.”
This tragic event underscores the importance of water safety and the risks associated with Aotearoa New Zealand’s beaches, this Summer.