State Highway 14 crash: Northland dad who moved from Zimbabwe dies on way to work

The Musarurwa family from left, Lynn, Killian, Dean, Marshall, Emanuel and Maria. Photo / Supplied

Lunchboxes being packed and cornflakes placed on the table are among the loving gestures a father of four’s children are clinging to after his sudden death.

Killian Musarurwa moved to Whangārei from Zimbabwe less than six months ago, in pursuit of a better life.

The 45-year-old was driving along State Highway 14 to his work at Silver Fern Farms in Dargaville when that life was cut short on April 16.

Despite the efforts of emergency responders, Killian died at the crash scene.

Wife Maria Musarurwa was in Maunu at the time and wondered what was going on when she heard sirens and a helicopter.

Police knocked on Maria’s door around 6pm with the news that Killian had died.

Now, she and their children – 16-year-old twins Dean and Lynn, 10-year-old Marshall, and 5-year-old Emanuel – were grappling with the insurmountable loss.

From left, Killian, Lynn, Dean, Emanuel, Maria and Marshall. Photo / Supplied

Maria described her husband as a “lovely man” who wanted the very best for his family, providing what they all needed.

“During the mornings, he would do lunchboxes for his children, and he would take them to school.”

On the weekend, Killian would take them to the park, something of a novel experience as it wasn’t safe to do that in Zimbabwe.

“We don’t have those playgrounds that you can go and just hang around ... so they loved that.”

Killian had recently helped 16-year-old Dean get his learner’s licence, and would take him for lessons in the mornings before work.

Killian Musarurwa in the Bay of Islands. He moved to Northland in search of a better life for his family. Photo / Supplied

Now, their children were expressing how much they missed those small moments with their dad.

“They’re so sad,” Maria said.

“It’s something they indicated that ‘Oh, we really miss the way he would say, “Have you finished bathing, now I’ve put your cornflakes on the table, you can come and eat’.

“You know, they really miss him,” she said. “At times it makes me want to cry.”

Maria was struggling without her husband, noting how she wouldn’t usually have to worry about anything in the mornings.

“And now that he’s not there, it’s something. You know?”

Maria, who works at BestStart Maunu, moved to New Zealand in July, and Killian joined in November with the children.

Maria hoped to return Killian to where his ancestors were buried, and where his family – including four siblings and his mother – were waiting.

“My number one worry when I got the news was, ‘Will I be able to take him back home?’, because it’s our culture that if someone passes on, they have to do the whole funeral and do body viewing,” she said.

Maria and Killian Musarurwa. Maria is now grappling with the loss of her husband. Photo / Supplied

After the crash, Maria’s boss set up a Givealittle to help cover the costs, which Maria estimated to be around $30,000.

Their four children would remain behind in New Zealand with a family friend while Maria took her husband home.

Maria was grateful for the African community and those in Maunu who had offered comfort and for BestStart who had been taking turns cooking food for her family.

She was grateful for donations as well.

“Words fail me.”

Maria was determined to continue their new life in New Zealand and fulfil her husband’s dream.

“He was someone who would want what’s best for [our] children, even me as well,” she said.

“He really wanted this life that we are having right now. So I will just stay here. God will make a way.”

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.