Loved ones and friends of the Kiwi soldier killed in Ukraine have farewelled him today at a tangi at Te Taua Moana o Aotearoa Marae in Devonport.
Kane Te Tai, 38, died in action on March 20 while on a mission for the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) in Vuhledar, Eastern Ukraine. He had been in Ukraine supporting the fight against Russia’s invasion since April 2022.
And those gathered saw the contents of a letter he wrote shortly before his final mission, with Te Tai saying he couldn’t leave the battle when people who didn’t choose it were stuck there.
The letter featured in the tangi’s order of service.
To those loved ones who were wondering why he made the decision to risk his life for another country, he left a short explanation.
“I couldn’t take the small amount of experience and keenness I have to offer out of a place that needs it. And selfishly, I love this stuff. I haven’t felt this satisfied and alive for a long time,” he wrote.
“This is not a love letter to romanticise this choice or a reason for others to follow. Just know what you’re getting yourself in for. And if you decide to come, then know for sure this could be it. Your choice has consequences for others too. I have been selfish and made that choice for them.”
Te Tai‘s letter explained he did not think he was worthy of being in the news but was penning what could be his final words in case he didn’t make it and was reported on.
“I have enjoyed myself here. I’ve learnt to live and love here. I have fallen in love with the people, the country. I came out here not fully knowing what I was getting myself into, but now I am here and five months on my resolve has only grown stronger.
“This place has a strength, that appears from the outside, as a picture of propaganda or something that is manufactured. It isn’t. The inner strength born from a people invaded is so strong that I, and people like me (including my brother and now deceased teammate Dominic Abelen), are compelled to join this fight.”
At today’s tangi at the Devonport Naval Base marae, Pouroto Ngaropo said Te Tai believed land and people were important, “not politics, not money”.
“His belief was fighting for others, their land, their rights.”
He thanked the people of Poland and Ukraine for looking after Te Tai so he could be farewelled at home.
Tama Ngākau Mārie and Whakaria Mai were solemnly sung, led by Reverend John Marsden, CNZM.
Among the attendees were former All Black and RNZRSA president Sir Wayne “Buck” Shelford and Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis.
Te Tai was led from the wharenui by Reverend Marsden, Ngaropo and Piripi Taylor, as a fierce haka called them out. Whānau followed behind with sunflowers, yellow and blue bouquets, the flags of Ukraine, New Zealand, Tino Rangatiratanga and the United Tribes.
The Ukrainian contingent at the funeral, including his Ukrainian fiancee, 37-year-old Ilona Kovalenko, was in tears as the hearse left the marae.
Kovalenko held the cross for Te Tai’s grave site, and wore a top that said “UKRAINE” down the spine.
His convoy including friends and whānau on motorcycles travelled from Devonport to his grandmother’s home and places he would play as a child in his beloved home town of Beach Haven, then to Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden.
Te Tai had reportedly given his notice to the Ukrainian army shortly before his death and planned to come home to marry Kovalenko.
He was a former New Zealand Defence Force soldier who served in Afghanistan and was co-founder of New Zealand veteran support and advocacy group No Duff.
At Waikumete Cemetery he was laid in the Quartermasters Quadrant, the New Zealand flag flying at half-mast.
“You lie in the blessing of the tribe of this place, Te Kawerau a Maki. And the tribe you affiliate strongly with, the New Zealand Army. You will lie here in peace amongst your fellow servicemen and women,” said Ngaropo at Te Tai’s graveside.
Ngaropo acknowledged the iwi of Te Tai: Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Awa, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and he was celebrated as a “great descendant of Ngāpuhi”.
Reverend Marsden encouraged the whānau to put their depression and anxiety in God’s hands.
Te Tai’s kōrowai was taken from his casket, placed upon his daughter’s shoulders and replaced by the Ukraine flag then lowered into the grave.
His brothers-in-arms erupted into haka, teary-eyed and red-faced at the loss of their comrade and good mate.
There was a gun salute followed by a trumpet sounding The Last Post.
Te Tai’s burial was followed by a memorial service at The Trusts Arena.
Te Tai’s uncle challenged those in attendance: “When I think of Kane from here on in ... I’m going to think of the ratbag nephew that he was and the amazing stories that we heard last night, which I’m not going to repeat.
“To make an effect in a small village on the other side of the world, it breaks my heart that that was the end of that chapter. But it’s not the end of the story. We continue the story.
“We tell someone about the story of Kane Samuel David Paul Te Tai. So that’s my challenge. My challenge to you is if you are to see injustice, whether it be big or small, perhaps just think of my nephew. And be challenged to speak up and say something.”
Kane Samuel David Paul Te Tai: Sunrise: 07.02.85 Sunset: 20.03.23
Lest we forget.
Not that I think that I’ll be in the news, or worthy of being in the news, but here’s for if so and obviously I haven’t made it, here it is. I never really liked you guys anyway (haha).
I enjoyed myself here. I’ve learnt to live and love here. I have fallen in love with the people, the country. I came out here not fully knowing what I was getting myself into, but now I am here and five months on, my resolve has only grown stronger.
This place has a strength, that appears from the outside, as a picture of propaganda or something that is manufactured. It isn’t. The inner strength born from a people invaded is so strong that I, and people like me (including my brother and now deceased teammate Dominic Abelen) are compelled to join this fight.
You’ll say this isn’t our fight. You’re right, it’s not our fight. It’s not our responsibility to help a mother carry in her groceries when she’s trying to get a kid inside. It’s not our responsibility to get involved when four teenagers gang up on a kid at a train station. It’s not our fight - if we don’t want it to be. We can choose to help or not, neither is wrong. But if location or who they are and what their political leaning is and if that is what is bothering you, or the ramifications of what it could bring to our country is your defence, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Life makes you choose. And sometimes you’ve got to expose yourself to help others. Sometimes you have to put some skin in the game, sometimes all of it. But don’t let excuses be the thing that stops you from helping others. On many occasions I’ve told soldiers here about what makes a soldier better, and it comes down to one thing. A good soldier saves energy to save himself but a great soldier digs deep for the energy to save the person next to him. Help one another, if you go out like that then it isn’t a waste.
I’m dragging on, and I hate being a bore. In conclusion, I loved my life. I loved the people in it. My friends, my family, the woman who has my heart and my attention, and my kid, who along with everyone else is going to wonder why. Here is part of the why. I couldn’t leave while others who didn’t choose this can’t either. I couldn’t take the small amount of experience and keenness I have to offer out of a place that needs it. And selfishly, I love this stuff. I haven’t felt this satisfied and alive for a long time. It has been great to be around people with the same mindset and goals. To be able to drink from the Oasis in the vast desert again.
This is not a love letter to romanticise this choice or a reason for others to follow. Just know what you’re getting yourself in for. And if you decide to come then know for sure that this could be it. Your choice has consequences for others too. I have been selfish and made that choice for them.
To my country New Zealand, be happy, be in love, find a reason to be in love with your life. I’ll miss your mountains, your rivers and the sea, so much.
To Ukraine, you’ll win. You’ll see the sunflower fields plentiful under a free yellow and blue flag in the wind soon. I know it. Zhovti Vodi, you’ll be in my soul forever.
Lastly, to my team. I know you did your best. Keep going with life, get a W for us and conduct yourselves with courage, honour and compassion as we have done since being here. My Mexican and Military family, see you guys at the RV in the sky with the rest of our friends.
Kura Takahi Puni, Onward.
Glory to Ukraine.
Icy temperatures and inland snow are forecast for holiday spots on Sunday.