Far North kaumatua dies in house fire

A prominent Far North kaumatua has died in a house fire after it is believed he fell asleep while having a late night cook-up.
Police are yet to formally identify 81-year-old Ivan Erstich but family members and friends were mourning his death yesterday.
About 40 people, including his brothers, sisters and children, gathered at the charred and mangled remains of the house for a karakia before his body was taken away for a post-mortem examination.
Mr Erstich was living alone in the old farm homestead on the corner of Oturu and Quarry Rds, about 5km north-east of Kaitaia, when it burnt down just after 2am yesterday.
Fire safety inspectors said there were no smoke alarms in the house where Mr Erstich had lived for at least 50 years.
Kaitaia police Senior Sergeant Gordon Gunn said formal identification would take several days and police would be working closely with the coroner.
"We are confident we know who it is but have to satisfy statutory requirements," Mr Gunn said.
Family members who gathered at the rural location were devastated by the death but recalled Mr Erstich's passion for horse racing and politics.
His younger sister, Katie Evans, said he liked joking and was well known for telling "a lot of bull".
"He's well known for his arguing too," she said.
News of Mr Erstich's death echoed around the corridors of power in Wellington with Northland-based Labour list MP Shane Jones mourning his relative's death.
"Musa", as Mr Erstich was nicknamed, was well known for voicing his opinions about institutions and people in power and tried to stamp his authority on the Far North District Council by running for mayor in this month's local body elections, gaining 237 votes.
"Musa was a great character, had a larrakin sense of humour and constantly berated institutions and individuals in authority ... it was just his style," Mr Jones said.
"For your average 81-year-old Maori in the North, he was quite distinctive.
"Some might say he was eccentric but he had strong spiritual beliefs and was physically still very strong."
Mr Erstich was one of seven children. His father was Ante Erstich, one of the original Dalmation gumdiggers in Kaitaia, who married a Maori woman, Katarina Paerata.
Mr Erstich was of Ngai Takoto and Ngati Kahu descent and had links to Maimaru and Kareponia Marae in Awanui.
As a young man he joined the airforce and was a member of the troops recently returned from Europe with the 2nd Division who were drafted to form a contribution (known as J-Force) toward the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in southern Japan.
Mr Erstich remained very active and earlier this year drove himself from the Far North to Stewart Island.
Mr Erstich was a Maori Warden for over 50 years.
Recently retired Maori Wardens Association president Peter Walden said Mr Erstich would be remembered for "calling a spade a spade".
"He was a strong speaker and wasn't that diplomatic which made him brilliant to listen to.
"He was fluent in both English and Te Reo. He was a great warrior and a great person."
There was little volunteer firefighters from Kaitaia could do to save the house when they arrived at the wooden three-bedroom home about 2.14am.
Sifting through the ashes, fire safety officer Craig Bain determined the fire had started on a stove in the kitchen and Mr Erstich was found only centimetres from the back door.
"There were no smoke alarms and this death was definitely avoidable," Mr Bain said.
"It looks like he has started cooking and has then fallen asleep.
"These old villas are tinder boxes and go up pretty quickly."