The respect and affection that John Terrence (Terry) Tepania earned over the 63 years before he lost his battle with his final illness last week was displayed on Saturday when an enormous congregation farewelled him at Ahipara.
After the funeral the casket was carried aboard a fire appliance for one last drive past the Ahipara fire station, where an honour guard of firefighters paid their respects as the siren was sounded.
The opportunity to say one last goodbye was also offered to one of Mr Tepania's dogs, a three-legged fox terrier by the name of Roxy, whose bark had unfailingly added to the sound of the fire alarm directly across the road, and who was held up to the casket briefly before it continued its journey to the cemetery.
Long-time friend Colin Kitchen said Mr Tepania had been a gentle man, rock solid, the sort of man who went about his business without fuss or fanfare.
"He was a people person, a man who was well respected across all sectors of the community," he added.
