Tuhega is the fourth woman in Dunedin to play 150 premier games. The others are Margaret McCarrigan (nee McKenzie, Pirates), sister Jess Tuhega (Pirates) and Jacinta Nielsen (Alhambra-Union).
Gemma Tuhega's 150th appearance, against Invercargill club Blues, was a milestone but it meant less for her than when she played her 100th game for the club in 2009.
It was one of her highlights because Pirates had a rare win against University and she scored a try. She is now eyeing her 200th game.
''If I get to 200 games that would be a big milestone,'' she said.
''I'm only 30 and the late 30s is the prime time for props.''
The highlight of her time for Pirates was to beat University to win the club final in 2011. It was Tuhega's first title and only the second time it had been won by the Pirates club.
Tuhega made her debut in premier rugby in 2000 and during her early days, the club competition was dominated by the students.
''I can't remember the score but [I] know that I scored the winning try,'' she said.
''It was a great year for me because it was also the year Nineva and me got married. It was also the year that the All Blacks won the World Cup.''
She could not pick out her best opponent but said ''the toughest opponents come from Alhambra-Union because they are solid and hard and have got mongrel. The Varsity team is fit but they are not that hard.''
Tuhega played about 30 games for the Otago Spirit and was a competitive prop in representative rugby. She was also talented at basketball and softball and represented Otago in those sports.
Tuhega started playing rugby at Bayfield High School and then joined the Pirates club.
''I like being part of a team,'' she said.
''That team ends up being part of your family. You grow up with them and they are an important part of your social life.''
In her first two years at university, she combined senior rugby and basketball.
''It got too much after that. After I had my children it changed my priorities.''
Two of her children - Orlando (8) and Jeremiah (5) - play for Pirates. Baby Phoenix is just 15 months old.
Tuhega lives a busy life. She is a teacher of physical education, health and Maori at Taieri College, coaches the girls' First XV and the softball team, and is a vice-president of the Pirates junior club that has 16 teams.
Her husband, Nineva Vaitupu, works for the Otago Regional Council and will be inaugurated as a village chief when the family travels to Samoa later this month.
''We are a very busy family coaching, organising and managing,'' she said.
''Every day is full of some activity. I put a lot of time into myself and to others as well. Life is busy, busy. I like giving back.''
Gemma Tuhega: The facts
Age: 30.
Position: Prop.
Club: Pirates.
Education: Bayfield High School, University of Otago (physical education degree).
The 150-game club: Margaret McCarrigan (Pirates) 206, Jess Tuhega (Pirates) 158, Jacinta Nielsen (Alhambra-Union) 156, Gemma Tuhega (Pirates) 150.
