Pacific Homecare extends condolences to the family of Pastor Pukerua Parai. The valued Chair and Board Member of Pacific Homecare since the mid-1990s passed away at home on Monday evening, November 24, survived by his wife Erita, their three children and many grandchildren.
It is a sad time for Pacific Homecare and everyone who had been fortunate enough to meet Pastor Pukerua Parai during his long and blessed life.
Hailing from the islands of Manihiki and Pamati, Pastor Parai grew up developing a strong sense of community and a natural love for the ministry.
As a teenager in the late 1950s he moved to Rarotonga, the main island of the Cooks, to become a missionary before being thrust into a minister’s role.
Pastor Pukerua went on to pioneer the first Assemblies of God Church in Rarotonga before moving to New Zealand in the 1960s to further his ministry and education.
He found that his skills were suited to the social services and became a qualified counsellor, working at Kuki Airani Pupu Tuturu Trust, a branch of the original Kuki Airani Aronga Pakari Trust, which is now Pacific Homecare.
Pastor Parai continued to serve at Mangere’s Church of Nazarene, where he was based since 1998.
He had been diagnosed with severe health problems requiring special treatment three times a week.
Despite being unwell, he continued to serve his community – caring for everyone he met – until it was no longer possible.
For Pastor Parai, community work was his life and passion. He will be sadly missed along with the wonderful service he provided.
“It is not often as a person that you get the opportunity to walk in the shadow of a true, humble, quiet, honest and hardworking leader which Papa Pukerua certainly was,” he said.
“He has left a great legacy for all us to follow in his footsteps. He was just simply a wonderful man, we will all miss him dearly.
“I Corinthians 9:15 say ‘Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift’ and that’s how we feel thankful for a wonderful leader in Papa. May he now rest in peace.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Parai’s family at this time.
