Celebrating motherhood, resilience, and unity, widowed women from Vaka Takitumu have come together to celebrate their strength, support, and their invaluable role as mothers.

The heartwarming gathering for “Te Au Vaine Purotu o Takitumu” on Thursday brought together these amazing women who have faced life’s challenges and soldiered on with determination.

Vaine Maui, a widower for four years, was inspired to bring these women together by the Matavera widows group “Etu Rere” of which she is a founding member.

“I know for myself that sometimes when you are by yourself you need somebody to talk to and also sometimes when we’re sitting there on our own, we want somebody to come and talk to us,” says Maui.

“And I thought of the women who lost their husbands.

“I will always say to the Lord, ‘Thank you very much for your amazing grace for looking after us’.”

Maui says there are around 120 widows from Vaka Takitumu – Matavera, Ngatangiia, and Titikaveka.

The women shared a special lunch on Thursday last week at the Ngatangiia/Matavera Clubhouse.

She is grateful for the support and sponsors from the three MPs of Takitumu, and the working committee.