Emotion high as family mourns

Friends and family of crash victim John "Boy" MacDonald will farewell him on a Northland marae today - it will be with mixed emotions as they also worry about a young boy seriously hurt in the crash just north of Hastings.

Mr MacDonald, 52, was the driver of a car in a head-on collision with a light truck carrying a woman, two daughters and her 7-year-old on Ruahapia Rd about 3.15pm last Sunday.

Mr MacDonald died at the scene and has been taken by brother Rob and eldest daughter Nessa to Whangarei and then to Waikare Marae, near Kawakawa, where the tangi ends today with his burial beside his grandparents.

Younger sister Leah Bartlett, now living in Toowoomba, told Hawke's Bay Today this week the thoughts of her whanau were with the family in the other vehicle, and the boy, who was flown to Auckland's Starship children's hospital in a critical condition.

"Boy, as we called him, has eight children and he loved his family very much," she said. "He would never want to hurt any innocent children and we would like the family of the little boy to know that Boy's family are so sorry for what has happened to them."

One of 15 brothers and sisters, Mr MacDonald spent his teenage years with his grandparents around Maraenui in Napier, went to Colenso High School in 1979, and started work pressing for now-late shearing contractor Steve Cottrell.

Mrs Bartlett said he had many interests and talents, including being an avid reader, a diver, playing rugby league, and as a lead guitarist and singer.

He had been in a band in Wellington with brother Nigel and had spoken of catching up with old friends Willie Pomana and Patrick and Andre LeGeyt, who had regathered to form roots and reggae band The Rude Boyz.

While in Wellington, he had played rugby league and, after returning to Napier, he played hooker for Maraenui Phoenix, and was a social worker and truancy officer. Patrick LeGeyt, who also played league for Maraenui Phoenix, described Boy as "a good bro and kind of protector for us growing up".

"We were all his bros," he said, planning a dedication at the band's Hastings gig. "The song we'll dedicate is our new one Rude Boy about a ghetto hood who comes right. Fitting for our bro John."

The tangi was part of Boy's final wish, that he be buried near his grandparents. His family were sorry the distance meant many friends in Napier were unable to pay their final respects.