A tangi was held at a marae in Devonport on Thursday morning, before Kane Te Tai's casket left in a military convoy and passed through his childhood neighbourhood of Beachhaven. Photo: Luka Forman/RNZ
A New Zealander killed fighting in Ukraine was farewelled today, with his funeral taking place in three parts across Auckland.
Kane Te Tai, a former New Zealand soldier, was killed on the front lines in eastern Ukraine, while clearing a trench in the Vuhledar region.
He was also the co-founder of veteran support and advocacy group No Duff.
A tangi was held at a marae in Devonport on Thursday morning, before Te Tai's casket left in a military convoy and passed through his childhood neighbourhood of Beachhaven.
Hundreds turned out to pay their respects, including army and navy personnel.
There were also representatives of the Ukrainian community at the service.
Kane Te Tai's friends and whānau performed a rousing haka as his casket was carried out of the marae.
A speaker at the Tangi remembered Te Tai as someone who believed in fighting for people and land, not politics.
"He's shown us that one person can make a huge change... you don't have to have two million people behind you, or 1000 people behind you, just you and a strong heart and conviction."
He said Te Tai had been fighting for the mana of Ukraine.
Last August, Kane Te Tai told RNZ he'd fallen in love with the country.
"I've met so many people, I've been everywhere in this country and the place grows on you, the people grow on you, and their strength, and that's why I'm still here.
Te Tai's mother had previously told RNZ that she'd tried to stop him going to Ukraine.
"We tried to stop him going over but he had made his mind up."
There was also a funeral service before Te Tai's body is laid to rest at a cemetery in West Auckland.
