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Tributes flow for dedicated Upper Hutt teacher and community champion

Author
Ethan Manera,
Publish Date
Fri, 27 Jun 2025, 7:20pm
Upper Hutt teacher and community champion Paula Bloomfield died on Wednesday.
Upper Hutt teacher and community champion Paula Bloomfield died on Wednesday.

Tributes flow for dedicated Upper Hutt teacher and community champion

Author
Ethan Manera,
Publish Date
Fri, 27 Jun 2025, 7:20pm

The family of an Upper Hutt teacher and determined community champion say she will be remembered for everything she did for others.

Paula Bloomfield died on Wednesday afternoon at Te Omanga Hospice in Lower Hutt after a battle with bladder cancer.

The 52-year-old was last month honoured as an ASB Good as Gold recipient for her services to the community, most recently organising a fundraising walk for the disease.

 Upper Hutt teacher and community champion Paula Bloomfield died on Wednesday.
Upper Hutt teacher and community champion Paula Bloomfield died on Wednesday.

Bloomfield was involved in the Scouts, the Totara Park Playcentre, and the Upper Hutt City Football Club.

She had organised multiple fundraisers for cancer, and had worked as a teacher at Heretaunga College for 19 years, her husband Mark Bloomfield told the Herald.

鈥淧aula went 100 miles an hour in everything she did,鈥 he said.

鈥淪he cared about a lot of people鈥, he said, and 鈥渨ould do anything for anyone鈥.

鈥淧aula was a dedicated educator and staff member who made a hugely significant contribution to our school community鈥, Heretaunga College principal John Murdoch said on social media.

Murdoch described her as a 鈥渧alued member of our English department鈥 and said the school community鈥檚 鈥渢houghts and deepest sympathies are with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time鈥.

The mother of three continued to fundraise and support her community, even in the face of her declining health, Bloomfield said.

ASB described her as 鈥渁 cherished member of the Upper Hutt community鈥 and 鈥渁 beacon of joy and strength鈥, upon being awarded the Good as Gold award on Seven Sharp, which included being given $10,000.

鈥淚 would like to share it though, it鈥檚 gonna be shared鈥, Bloomfield said at the time, but agreed to spend some of the money on her family.

She and her family decided to use a portion of the funds on a campervan trip around the South Island which was booked for next Tuesday, but never got the chance.

Bloomfield鈥檚 family have agreed to still take the trip one day, to honour Paula.

The family said they鈥檝e been overwhelmed by the tributes that have poured in over social media from the various groups Bloomfield supported over the years, as well as people from her past getting in touch to offer their condolences.

The Upper Hutt City Football Club plans to observe a minute鈥檚 silence during games this weekend, remembering Bloomfield鈥檚 passion and vibrance.

The Remutaka Zone Scouts said when she was honoured with the Good as Gold award 鈥淧aula embodies the very spirit of this award, and we are absolutely thrilled to see her recognised in this way鈥.

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