"After that happened I had so many people come up to me and say they'd lost mothers, brothers, sister, fathers - and it wasn't just one or two. They'd only talked to me about it because it had happened to me."
A bit of research painted a frightening picture of suicide in our country for Mr Rosemergy.
More than 500 people take their own lives on average in New Zealand every year - more than the road toll.
And people who lose someone in their family, or a close friend, were 10 times more likely to commit suicide themselves.
"I thought, 'Let's do something, let's raise awareness'. If it hasn't happened to you, you may think you have an understanding of what's happening ... but you may not be educated in regards to the how, the why, or what to look for."
Choose Life's first project was restoration of a hot rod in honour of Rhys Rosemergy - who was a car painter and avid car enthusiast - for the group to take to schools and maraes to talk about depression.
But that blossomed into "so much more".
The Choose Life charity dinner is in its third year, and the last two have each been a great success.
"There's a lot of laughter, a lot of fun and we make it a conversation that you can have around the dinner table."
Depression was something that anyone could talk about and it was important to break down some of the common miscon-ceptions people held.
"Someone doesn't ask to get depressed - you don't ask to get sick. It just happens."
Choose Life is expecting at least 250 people at the dinner.
Tickets are $600 a table of eight or $80 per person and include a buffet dinner, entertainment and full comedy show.
They can be bought from Whangarei Paper Plus, Steve Bennett and Associates and Adecco.
