Te Taki (Wally) Tairakena

Te Taki Tairakena. Photo / Supplied

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Te Taki (Wally) Tairakena, 60, was a teacher at the King's Education language school, which was based in the CTV building.

He died when it collapsed in the earthquake.

Wally's wife Donna said she met him in a Christian band in the early eighties. She didn't think much of him at the time she joked, but she soon changed her tune.

"We were good friends and he asked me out one time. I had no romantic interest in him at all but I went out with him and a week later I'd fallen in love with him."

Months later they were married.

Before taking up teaching, the Tainui man had worked at freezing works and on garbage trucks. But he'd always had a knack for breaking things down and making them simple.

Mrs Tairakena said she'd dearly miss her best mate, who was a loving and affectionate man who appreciated his culture.