On the night of his death, Kahaki said, she received a call from his friend after her son had suffered a medical event.
“Seemed like time stood still. But then shortly after I arrived, the firemen arrived, followed quickly by paramedics, and they all tried very hard to resuscitate him and bring him back.
“It was very tragic, but I’m happy that he was surrounded by his friends, and he was with people he loved, and he wasn’t on his own,” she said.
Kahaki said her son’s death has rocked the entire community, and hundreds paid their respects at the local rugby club rooms, including teachers and his students.
She said children “flocked” to her son, and he was extremely gentle and non-judgmental to anyone he crossed paths with.
“He was 6′3 and he was built like a brick s***house and he was a gentle giant.
“He had the best heart,” she said.
T.J. Kahaki was set to begin a three-year practical teaching course, which would help him to reach his goal of becoming a Māori teacher.
His mother said he just recently had a big “beautiful celebration” with family and friends for his 21st birthday in September.
Kahaki said her son had been a massive Warriors fan since he was a young child and was an avid collector of the team’s jerseys.
A Givealittle page was set up for the family to help ease the financial burden and to give him the send-off that he deserves, the page said.
Celebrated rugby club member
The Glenfield Rugby Club paid tribute to the “cherished member”.
“T.J. quite literally grew up at the club. From a young age, he was a familiar face around the grounds, always smiling, always helping, and always bringing joy to those around him.
“We watched him grow from a curious child into a caring and fun-loving boy, and then into a respectful, generous young man,” the club told the Herald.
Kahaki played junior rugby for Glenfield, and the club said he embodied the culture and values of the community.
“He was a natural on the field, but even more so off it – always ready to lend a hand, share a laugh, or just be a supporter."
Troy-Jacob Kahaki (right) had been a huge Warriors fan since childhood, his mum says.
They said his mother had been a cornerstone of Glenfield Rugby Club for many years, serving as a dedicated club secretary, club manager, and a valued member of the committee.
The club also said Kahaki’s father was a loyal clubman who played for many years in the President’s Rugby team, the Grizzlies.
Last year, Kahaki and his father were on the field together in a special father-son Presidents’ match.
“T.J. was a beautiful soul – fun-loving, caring, and always smiling. His loss leaves a void that cannot be filled, but his memory will live on in every corner of our club, in every game played, and in every heart he touched.
“Moe mai rā e te rangatira. Rest easy, T.J. You will always be one of us,” the club said.
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