She was born in
Hamilton,
Waikato,
New Zealand in 1903. Tapsell married into the
Te Arawa iwi when she married in 1924 Kouma Te Omeka Whakamutunga Ngaherehere Tapsell (Tapihana). After her marriage, she moved to
Maketu and lived there for 30 years, learned
Māori language and contributed where she could in the community including with her nursing experience. She was active in advocating for equal rights for Māori. Later she moved to
Rotorua and set up the first
museum there inside the old Regent Theatre building. She was also instrumental in the move of the museum to the old government bathhouse. In 1962 she moved into politics and was elected to the Rotorua City Council, one of the first two women to be in this position. == References ==