Confirmed: Former All Black and wife killed in crash

Former All Black Ian Uttley died alongside his wife "Tinks" in a crash near Te Pohue on Tuesday.

Police have confirmed the Napier grandparents killed in a horror crash on Tuesday were former All Black Ian Neill Uttley, 73, and his wife Christine "Tink" Lee Uttley, 74.

The two were returning from their Taupo holiday home when they collided with a logging truck near Te Pohue just before midday. They died at the scene.

Daughter Caroline Uttley told Hawke's Bay Today the couple's grandchildren were "absolutely devastated".

"We take some comfort from the fact they went together because they were so totally devoted. My mum was so protective of dad and dad adored mum," Ms Uttley said.

"They would often just sit and hold hands. It would have been so desperately hard if just one had gone, because they were just so devoted."

The couple moved to Napier from Waikanae about 10 years ago to support their children and grandchildren.

Their daughter Vicki first made the move to Hawke's Bay and made it her life's mission "to get the whole family here".

She succeeded. Vicki's sister Rachel was the first to follow, then Caroline, their parents and brother Guy.

"My parents left a home they loved but we are so grateful because we have spent so much time together for the last 10 years.

"The house was like Grand Central Station - everybody and anybody was so welcome with a smile and a cup of tea. Everybody loved Mum and Dad - they were so kind and wonderful."

Mr Uttley suffered dementia and enjoyed regular stays in familiar surroundings.

He played two matches at centre for the All Blacks, at home against England in 1963.

The couple recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, having married in Gisborne in 1965, the same year he scored the only try in Wellington's victory over South Africa.

Mr Uttley had season tickets to the Magpies and went to every game.

"He never played for Hawke's Bay but he was a staunch supporter - he was always singing 'Black white - all right - come on the Bay'. He would sing that over and over in his black and white scarf."

The pair, like many Napier Hill residents, were trapped inside the Napier siege police cordon in May 2009, when Jan Molenaar shot policeman Len Snee and injured three others.

A large crowd was expected at the funeral service on Tuesday, at the Napier War Memorial Conference Centre at 11.30am.

Before retirement the former All Black was a senior executive at Shell Oil.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Mike Bishop said he was a fine and long-serving rugby player "and a real gentleman".

The family have bought tickets for six seats close to his season-ticket seat and will watch tomorrow's game in his memory.

"That's where Dad should have been on Saturday night. Mum was going to be going to the ballet with me," Ms Uttley said.

Police said it appeared the couple may have been taking evasive action on the brow of a hill north of Te Pohue. Their car's tyres went on to the grass verge and they lost control, crossing the centre line and crashing into the truck.

Witness accounts at the crash scene resulted in police stopping a people-mover travelling towards Taupo.

Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said it was too early to say if charges would be laid against the driver.

"What is clear is that this is sadly another of those situations where an error in judgment has resulted in an absolute tragedy," he said.

"The deceased's vehicle has ended up only marginally off the road surface, but this has been enough to cause the vehicle to lose control and collide with the truck."

Police want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the accident.