'Generous to the end' -Tauranga truckie farewelled

Martin Ferry, the 30-year-old truck driver killed in Thursday's horror crash in Pongakawa. Photo/Supplied

The grieving parents of the Tauranga truck driver killed in a horror crash in Pongakawa are struggling to cope with the loss of their "generous, thoughtful, caring, and loving boy".

Martin John Ferry, 30, died after the Booth Transport truck and trailer unit he was driving and a logging truck collided on the intersection of State Highway 2 and Pongakawa Station Rd last Thursday.

Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times from their Bethlehem home yesterday, his emotionally-drained parents Laurie and Jenny Ferry said they were devastated by the loss of their beloved son.

Martin was a "generous, thoughtful, caring and loving person", Mr Ferry said.

"Our son gave so much to everybody. One recent example of that was when Martin learned a lady couldn't afford to buy some soccer boots for her child, he told her come with me and he paid for them himself even though he didn't know her.

"Also earlier this year he heard about a young girl with a brain injury who just loved the water. Martin decided to gift her his wake board because he knew it would help with the healing process."

Mr Ferry said the girl and her father insisted they should pay Martin for it but he refused to accept any money.

"That was the sort of person our son was. Martin was a giver not a taker and if he owed you a penny he'd come back the next day to give back to you," Mrs Ferry said.

Mrs Ferry said she and her husband moved to Tauranga for a better life 27 years ago,
and their son had lived with them until he bought his own home 18-months ago.

Auckland-born Mr Ferry was educated at Bethlehem Primary, Otumoetai Intermediate and Otumoetai College, and after leaving school first worked for New World Brookfield.

He then worked for Tip Top Bread, spent time working in the kiwifruit industry, and drove for Te Kauwhata Transport before joining Booths Transport four years ago.

"Martin loved driving the Booths Transport 32-wheeler, and he absolutely loved his job," his mother said.

On the day of the crash Mr Ferry picked up a load of wood pulp from ISO Ltd depot in Totara St and he was on his way to a Kawerau mill to make a delivery, his father said.

"Martin was also a keen fisherman and loved going out on the water in his two boats, but used to gave away most of his catch," his mother said.

"Martin was a very caring boy and he was always telling us I love you mum, love you dad," a devastated Mrs Ferry said.

"Martin had a loads of friends both inside and outside of the industry. His friends are all devastated and so cut up they're struggling to even talk about it."

Described as a "great mate to many", Mr Ferry is also survived by his older sister and brother Natalia and Aaron, and sister-in-law Seiko.

He was also uncle to Harley, Yoshiki and Myuki.

Mr Ferry's parents said they wanted to thank all those who had rallied to support the family at this sad time, including friends and work mates of his daughter and late son.

As a mark of the regard in which his son was held, Mr Ferry said the mill would shut for the day so as many staff as possible could attend his son's funeral.

A lone Booths Transport truck would be parked outside the City Church in Otumoetai tomorrow - the first truck Mr Ferry drove for the firm when he joined four years ago.

The funeral service would be followed by a private cremation.