A blue United Nations beret at the Mount Maunganui dawn service told a war story from a region of the world still a simmering political hot spot.
Bob Tanner's military career included a stint as a United Nations military observer in the Kashmir border conflict between India and Pakistan.
From his station in the inaccessible mountainous region he could could see K2, the second highest mountain on earth.
Mr Tanner's tour, in the early 1970s, involved monitoring activities and reporting complaints between the combatants - the Indian Hindus and Pakistani Muslims.
His military career began with the British army of occupation in Germany after World War II. He then shifted to New Zealand and saw action in Malaya with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, before the UN posting.
