She is one of the authors of "Te Atua Mou E" ("God is Truth"), the national anthem of the Cook Islands.

[5] In 1934, Pa Terito attended school in New Zealand at the Hukarere Girls' College in Napier.

(...) My People (held) a meeting (and said): 'Young lady, your ancestors accepted the Gospel' and all this kind of thing and I said: 'Yes, they had their reasons and I've got mine.

"[7] Pa Terito promised that there would be no attempt to proselytize on her part and agreed to attend the Sunday service at the Cook Islands Christian Church in Ngatangiia.

[8] They had nine children, three sons: Teariki-Upoko-O-Te-Tini-Tini (Sonny), Hironui Maoata Rapu Malcolm and George Meredith Ani Akatauira, and six daughters: Marie Rima Desiree, Mahinarangi Margaret, Bambi Tetianui O Pa Paiaoro, Isabell, Kairangi Elizabeth, and Memory Teariki Tutini Memory Teao Manea.

[11] It seems that the discussion that ensued in the intimacy of the couple turned into a fight, at least that is what the local rumor, very active in the Cook Islands, asserted.

Officially he had accidentally injured himself, suffering from cuts to the ear, chest, and groin, which fed the rumor all the more.

A neighbour living near the couple said, on condition of anonymity, "if the cut in the groin had been longer than a half inch, Sir Thomas would today be a soprano in the church of Ngatangiia.

"[12] This accounting was later denied by Pa Terito, who declared that her husband had injured himself in his sleep by turning onto a hunting knife.