Chapter 21.8 

Michael Ross Elers 

Life of Michael Ross Elers
February 3 1953

Michael Ross Elers (Mike) was born on February 3, 1953, at the Feilding Maternity Hospital. He is the tenth child and fourth son of James Rupuha Elers and his second wife, Helen Adele (Tauwhare) Elers (née Lemcke). Tragically, Helen passed away in 1956 when Mike was only three years old. Following her death, the Apostolic Church stepped in to support the family, Michael, along with his brothers Phillip and Steven, were fostered into a Dutch family, the Mueys, appointed by the state welfare system. 

Despite having a relatively stable life with his foster parents, Mike often felt he was treated as second best compared to their biological children. Mike played soccer and rugby at Fielding Ag school and was a member of the Feilding Junior Boys Brigade. 

At the age of fourteen, while attending Feilding Agriculture High School, Mike saw an opportunity to leave the foster home by enrolling in the Carpentry training school with Māori Trades Training Scheme, under the auspices of Māori affairs at Seaview. He spent the next five years in Trentham, played rugby & rugby league with the Trade Trainees, gaining valuable work experience in the building trade and participating in kapa haka with his sisters Grace and Tangi.

After graduating from the Māori Trades Training Scheme (1971) at nineteen, Mike moved in with his sister Grace and her husband in Upper Hutt. He soon secured work with G.K. Shaw Ltd construction firm and later met his future wife, Tangiahua Toroa.  Mike & Tangi married at Te Poho o Rawiri marae 26th August 1972.  The couple lived in Wellington before moving to Lower Hutt with Tangi’s siblings, then Naenae, where Mike worked for GK Shaw and eventually to Upper Hutt, where their first two children were born, Tamati Te Uru Paina Elers (born February 1974) and Kaaterina Kaamaana Elers (born 1976).  Their third child, Anita Hankie Elers (1979), was born after they moved to Kaiti, Gisborne (Huxley Road). 

Mike's career flourished as he joined Fletcher Construction in 1981, where he worked for seven years, including a significant project building the Gisborne Hospital and later became a self-employed builder, managing a crew of eighteen men and working on various construction projects and becoming a Registered Master Builder. 

In 1986 Mike became associated with Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Kaiti Gisborne being involved with designing and alterations to the complex. During this time Mike attended Māori carving course at the Tairāwhiti Polytechnic, under the tutorship of master carver Mr Ngata Ruru, and was taught the basics of Māori carving.

In 1988, Cyclone Bola struck, halting all work. Mike was then approached by the Māori Affairs department to assess the cyclone's damage; a role he held until the department was rebranded as Te Puni Kōkiri. After being made redundant, he returned to self-employment in 1991, some of the key contracts included, Hinerupe Marae rebuild, Te Poho o Rawiri Marae alterations, Gisborne Wharf extension, Juken Nisho Timber Mill, Marabeni Logging complex, various schools in Gisborne. In 1992, Mike reconnected with the wider Elers family at the Elers family reunion in Hastings.  From there he continued to remain in contact with his siblings.

In 1999 Mike joined First Light Construction as site foreman and manager and worked on many projects including Ruatoria Police Station, Whakarua Park grandstand, Gisborne district courthouse, Bayview apartments, Marina view complex and the Te Kaha Resort (completed in 2007 under First Light Construction). Mike and Tangi had moved to Uawa, Tolaga bay and built their whānau home.

During this time Mike and Tangi were managing the Tolaga Bay Motor camp where they added on a new office & shop and saw out the Millenium new year there.  Sadly, Tangi passed away suddenly January 12th, 2003, leaving behind Mike, their children and mokopuna (grandchildren). Tamati & Paulette and their tamariki moved to Brisbane, Australia. Rina & Tai returned from Wellington to Uawa, and Anita & Jeff made Tāmaki Makaurau their home.

In 2008, Mike was approached by the Gisborne District Council to become an Inspector.  One of many highlights included helping the wider Tairawhiti community during Cyclone Gabrielle. Over the years Mike has kept in touch with his siblings and wider Elers whānau attending reunions, birthdays and life celebrations. 

Mike has been an active member and volunteer of the Uawa Community Fire Brigade & Coast Guard since 2019  and met Thelma Waru. Mike and Thelma have enjoyed travelling to Australia, Thailand, Fiji, Las Angles, and Los Vegas. 

October 2024, at 71 years of age, Mike retired from the Gisborne District Council as inspector, a position he held for 17 years. 

Tamati & Paulette reside in Logan with their daughters, Jessie-mike (Perth), Kieran, Moana, and Sydney. Tamati is currently working in Thursday Island Torres Strait.

Kaaterina & Tai reside in the whānau home in Uawa, their tamariki Khama, Tangiahua live in Wellington, Maia in Gisborne and Taiawhio at home.

Anita & Jeff still reside in Tāmaki Makaurau with their son Epiha

Mike is currently enjoying retirement, travelling with Thelma and have plans to go gold mining in Australia 

Mokopuna Memories

Khama:

When I was 16 My parents sent me to Tolaga one Christmas to visit Pa, it was just us for Christmas that year while the rest of my whānau was driving up for new year’s. On Christmas day it was raining and Pa thought it would be a good idea to go to the beach and go fishing. We drove to the beach and parked on the shore to set up our rods and we sat up on the back of his ute with a propped-up tarpaulin over us to keep the rain out. As we stared out to watch the fishing lines seeing what was going to catch, he pulled out a small chilly bag and handed me a can of double brown beer. That was my first beer.

Kieran:

I remember all the excitement about the little Honda dirt bike. And from then on, it was us, kids, taking turns going up and down the orchard on the dirt bike. Dad teaching me how to jump start the bike and to remember to push the choke down. I remember one time, Moana was flying down the orchard and something happened, she either went into the fence or a tree. 

Maia:
My favourite memory of Pa is when I’d come home from hockey, and we’d settle into his man cave with a plate of food. He’d call me “the crusher” because I’d crush all his beer cans while we watched Shortland Street together. It might sound simple, but those moments just me and Pa, laughing at the show and enjoying the quiet felt like the best.

I have many fond memories of my Pa, who has always been a hard man with a heart full. I remember hot days working in the kumara patch, with him always making us kids sweat under the blazing sun. He didn’t cut us any slack no weeds left behind, but no doubt that he cares deeply for us. Despite the tough work, Pa would always find a way to make us laugh or make fun of us with his quick wit. His love may not always come wrapped in soft words, but it’s always there, solid and real, just like him.

Tangiahua:
  My Pa taught me many things, from fishing to cleaning public toilets to preparing and eating cow tongue properly. But one of my fondest memories is when I asked him to describe my Nan and how they met for a school project. My Nan passed away a year before I was born, so I never had the chance to meet her, but I was lucky enough to be named after her, and my family around me always welcomed moments to talk about her. My Pa always kept our conversations about her brief and to the point. When I finally managed to ask him about my Nan, he started to get tearful but continued to describe how loving and kind she was. This showed me how much he cared for her, even after all these years.

Pa taught me the importance of family and hard work. He’s always been a man of integrity, and I strive to live by the values he instilled in me. Every story he shares about her reminds me of the deep connections we form with our loved ones and how those bonds shape who we are. I hope to carry forward his lessons, ensuring that the legacy of love and kindness remains alive in our family.