Fond reflections of the late Gerald Leon Papatera’i Garnier - of the legacy he leaves behind
The late Gerald Leon Papatera’i Garnier was born in Pare, Pira’e Tahiti on 11th November, 1928-83 years ago. He was descended among his ancestry from the Bambridge and Wichman lineages of Tahiti and the Cook Islands.
In 1958 Gerald was married to Marie-France daughter of Charlie Cowan- son of John Albert Matatia (Tata) Cowan the founder of the Cowan et Fils Enterprises Tahiti. Tata Cowan’s mother Konini came from Ngati Tamarua family of Takitumu, Rarotonga.
The Garniers returned from Tahiti to settle in Rarotonga about thirty years ago - in search of their roots - and settling in Akapuao Tapere of Vaka Takitumu beneath the shadow of Mount Toroume peak inland, overlooking the turquoise lagoon of Titikaveka against a backdrop setting of an ocean vista beyond, south.
At the family funeral-service in their beach-front home at Akapuao on Saturday morning 10am on 17 March I sat with my cousin Marie-France at the head of the open coffin reminiscing the early days of construction of the foundation footing of this three storey “mansion”-having a small involvement in the EIA preparations for consideration and approval of the Rarotonga Environment Authority- of work being undertaken in a foreshore environment.
Marie-France was sharing with me how Gerald- during a happy, sing-song session with the family, of his favourite old-time tunes the afternoon of the day before, - had passed away peacefully cradled in her arms here in the living-area of the home he created and loved so much- his architecture and engineering masterpiece. The massive square concrete columns supporting the concrete cross-beams of this impressive three-floor concrete structure was raised skyward from the base bedrock “papa’ of the pristine-reef one to two metres below the white coral sand; with the natural trees on site left intact to merge with the architectural form of his “creation” in perfect harmony with nature- befitting the meaning of his Tahitian/Maori name “Papatera’i.”
Someone had once remarked during the early days of construction in a friendly sarcasm about the structure “not going any place in a hurry,” -being anchored to the “Papa”- Land and moving skyward!
Some years later but before his fatal illness began to slow him down a little bit, Papa Gerald invited me to a site in the valley on this same Akapuao, Ngati Tamarua Land inland to size- up a place to build another house for his other grand children about the valley floor, flanked on the eastern ridge by daughter Eunice’s home, set amongst natural trees, with son Francis’ house on the west side ridge overlooking the family home far to the south that is quite visible against the lagoon and ocean backdrop’ Gerald was a “thinker” a “lover of nature” with a clear “vision” and “passion” for understanding and reading the characteristics of nature which he incorporated with his religious affiliation and knowledge of the Bible.
His architectural genius enabled him to successfully merge his conceptual design in harmony with what nature had to offer. He was a humble gentle person and a creativity genius! With gesticulation of his hands to demonstrate a concept he had already the picture in his mind ready to commit to plan form.
For the duration of that very moving “family service” that morning, almost everyone present - the children, the grand children relatives and friends, tended to become drawn by the Pacific nostalgic feeling of the mi’i (mihi) * “expression of sadness over the loss of a loved one,” to say a few fond reflections of the departed, that is the legacy implanted, to be perpetuated among the living and more so of the children and grand children, who survived their father and grandfather whom they were now reminiscing with love and deep respect, especially of his advice “always in the form of a lecture” one would say - to observe nature and learn from the ways of nature which is the beginning of wisdom.
Gerald had the passion to create things! He would size-up an old tree-trunk especially during Ministry Of Works’ District clean-up some years ago, to be discarded, which he requested to be saved for transformation, skillfully, and artistically into the most magnificent coffee-table that one could imagine. One of these recycled tree-trunks beautifully transformed into something of beauty had adorned the office of the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands but was lost - and could not be saved - during the fire of May 1992.
“Papa Garnier” as he was often affectionately referred to, was a man of many talents.
The rock-line water features that characterized the swimming pool amenity areas of the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa at Aroa was one of his magnificent creations about the latter years of the 1990s, that are still functional as designed, to this day.
Another of his creations was the four million litre capacity of “Te-Vai-O-Uri” lined earth- dam water-storage facility on the western slopes of Raemaru Arorangi that was capable of servicing the immediate adjacent properties below west to the shore line beachfront of Vaiakura Tapere but was damaged for lack of care and proper maintenance. The sound principle was a possibility for water-storage on the hill slopes or appropriate “river-valleys” to contain excess water-flow during the rainy season, for use during time of low water pressure.
One spokesperson from Tahiti with a PhD has reminisced of Gerald’s practical knowledge, love, passion, care, and philosophical appreciation of nature that he had implanted among his children and grand children - a legacy he leaves behind, as celebrated by all concerned.
Though he died, yet he lives in the legacy he leaves behind. All these values and characteristics of the man he was, were reflected by the Orometua Roy Tangianau during the funeral service at their Kingdom Hall, and at the graveside where he was laid to rest at the entrance to the valley he loved so much with a spectacular view of the family ‘home’ south.
His resting place in Akapuao, valley entrance befitting the gentleman that he was, is Surrounded by a beautiful garden of trees, landscaped lawn and flowering shrubs beside a deep gorge lined with tall, and gnarled, ‘chestnut” trees - i’i (mape)!
Gerald was also a son/brother-in law among the Cowan Pa-Metua or uncle and friend to many of the extended family!
Rest in Peace Papatera’i! -George Cowan

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