SAS trooper farewelled in 'moving private service' at NZ Army's Papakura Military Camp

1st New Zealand Special Air Services Regiment pallbearers carry Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea into the funeral service at Papakura Military Camp yesterday. Photo / NZ Army

The SAS trooper who died during a training exercise has been farewelled in a moving private service.

Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea is believed to have jumped from a helicopter onto a building last Wednesday night when he missed and fell several stories to the ground.

The jump was part of a counter-terrorism exercise between New Zealand and the United States that was suspended for several days following his death before resuming on Monday.

He was yesterday farewelled by family and friends during a "moving private service" at the Papakura Military Camp.

Today 1st New Zealand Special Air Services Regiment and Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea’s family and friends paid their...

Posted by New Zealand Army on Monday, May 13, 2019

NZ Army personnel and dogs accompany the gun carriage carrying Trooper Nicholas Kahotea's remains. Photo / NZ Army

The NZ Army has since posted pictures of the funeral on its Facebook page.

The training exercise will continue until the end of the month and include training with United States ground and air units around the North Island.

The air activities included aerial gunnery at Kaipara Air Weapons Range and combined mission planning.

Following Kahotea's death, the Army had changed the scope of the exercise but was confident it could continue.

Army chief Major General John Boswell said safety was always "our paramount concern".

"While we continue to look into the cause of the accident, I am satisfied that the measures put in place will allow us to continue with the remainder of this exercise safely."