Family, friends and colleagues of fallen soldier Corporal Luke Tamatea gathered in Kawerau during the weekend to remember a man described as a consummate professional and a great daddy.
Just over 14 months ago Corporal Tamatea, 31, along with Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, and Private Richard Harris, 21, died instantly when a 20kg roadside improvised explosive device destroyed their Humvee military vehicle in Afghanistan's northeast Bamiyan Province.
Corporal Tamatea, who called Te Teko home, was buried in Kawerau at the end of August last year, his funeral attended by hundreds.
On Sunday, at a service and the unveiling of his headstone, 250 people including a 40-strong contingent of soldiers from Burnham Military Camp and Sandra Harris, the mother of Richard Harris, remembered Corporal Tamatea.
Mrs Harris had travelled from Auckland to be part of the day.
Following the service, people made their way into the Whakatane RSA where a special New Zealand Defence Force presentation took place.
Major Craig Wilson represented the Defence Force on Saturday. He formerly served with the SAS and was the officer commanding the team who went to aid Afghan police during the attack that killed soldiers Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone in the province of Bamiyan just weeks before Corporal Tamatea, Lance Corporal Baker and Private Harris lost their lives.
"We are here to present Corporal Tamatea's mother Lynne O'Brien, his partner Sarah Erb and Richard Harris' mother Sandra Harris the New Zealand Memorial Cross," Major Wilson said.
"The Memorial Cross is awarded to the next of kin of all New Zealand servicemen and women killed while on war service or operational service overseas.
"This medal has been around since the Second World War. It recognises that it is not only the service member who makes a sacrifice, but also their family. It becomes a valuable taonga passed through from generation to generation."
Since World War II, 113 people have been awarded the New Zealand Memorial Cross.
Both Ms O'Brien and Ms Erb spoke at the presentation.