Editorial: Amazing strength shown

Extreme situations can often produce acts of bravery from the most unlikely people.

None of us knows how we will react in dangerous situations, but we all hope it will be heroically. We have all heard the stories of mothers throwing themselves in front of wild animals to save babies, fathers jumping into rough seas to rescue their sons or even timid little boys standing up to the schoolyard bully.

There are times when survival instincts kick in and even the most mild-mannered, unassuming person decides they will not be defeated.

Today's front page story is a terrible example of how alcohol can bring out the worst in people, but it is also a good example of the triumph of the human spirit and of good over evil.

A jury of 11 people in the Napier District Court found two people Ardijah Rakete, 22, and Tjay Karl Maera Cashmore, 29, guilty of a horrific attack on a Hastings family last year. The two, together with Rakete's brothers Te Ani Rakete, 27, and John Boy Rakete, 20, were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and injuring with intent, following the attack last year.

John-Boy Rakete pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for his part in the violence, while Te Ani Rakete changed his plea three days into this week's trial.

The incident happened when the Kairau family - father Brian Kairau, 51, 48-year-old mother, Juliana, and daughter, Tara Kairau, 26, - pulled over on Nelson Street at about 10pm when one of the intoxicated offenders threw a can at their vehicle.

Mr Kairau was set upon and beaten savagely, but it was the actions of his daughter that probably saved his life. A witness to the vicious assault, Stephen Houghton, said he ran out of his front gate to see Tara Kairau lying across her father's head in an attempt to protect him from the group, who were repeatedly punching and kicking both of them.

Mr Houghton, who was also assaulted when he tried to intervene, said it was like watching a pack of dogs who had cornered a pig.

The police officer in charge Detective Marty James described it as "an ugly, ugly incident".

The actions of Ms Kairau in protecting her father and Mr Houghton for stepping in to save strangers have to be commended. They deserve all the good things in life for showing courage and bravery under severe attack.

It is unfortunate that for us to see the strength and bravery of good people, we also had to see the ugliness and brutality of terrible people. The fact that one of these people - Ardijah Rakete - is a woman and the mother of a 4-year-old daughter makes her actions even more untenable. Where was her nurturing nature? It obviously got lost in drunken thuggery and random callousness.

Some of the offenders still have to be sentenced for their crimes so I cannot comment on what they deserve, but let's hope they realise the damage they have caused to innocent people. We can only wish the best for the Kairau family and Mr Houghton and be thankful that our community has men and women of their calibre in it.