She was a leader of the Maori Ngati Kahungunu tribe and helped to spread the gospel in her area after being baptized by American missionaries.
[1]: 252 At 21 years old, Mere married Hirini Te Rito Whaanga, an important leader of the Maori Ngutikahungu tribe.
[1]: 253 Hirini was branch president and Mere often consulted with the missionaries when difficulties arose in communicating with tribe members.
On May 21, 1894, Hirini and Mere moved to Utah with a group of extended family members, leaving their children and parents in New Zealand.
[1]: 256 [4] The Whaanga family arrived in Salt Lake City on July 19 after making stops in Gisborne, New Zealand and San Francisco, California.
[1]: 256–257 They made quite a spectacle on the streets as both Mere and her sister-in-law had "the traditional blue Maori facial tattoo (moko) on their lips and chins".
[1]: 258 [4] Church leaders recommended Kanab as a better location for the family to live as the climate is not as cold as Salt Lake City in the winter.
[1]: 258 [4] The church sent leaders to Kanab to review the incident and eventually, the Zion's Maori Association helped Mere and her family relocate to Salt Lake City.
[1]: 258 [2][7] After relocating to Salt Lake, Mere learned to write in order to maintain frequent contact with her children and parents back in Nūhaka.
Mere's grandson and nephew who made the original trek out to Utah back in 1894 both decided to return to New Zealand.