Death deals double blow

Asa Le Grande Te Kare was killed near Warkworth on the way home from his brother-in-law's tangi. Photo / Chris Skelton

An innocent motorcyclist was killed when he was caught up in a high-speed race on State Highway 1 was travelling home from the tangi of his brother-in-law.

Police have interviewed two teenage drivers after Asa Le Grande Te Kare, 43, was killed 2km south of Warkworth last Saturday.

Sergeant Stu Kearns said witnesses reported seeing a white Toyota Altezza and a silver Subaru Legacy being driving "erratically" and at "considerable speed" when they entered a moderate right-hand bend. The Altezza allegedly lost control, sliding on to the wrong side of the road, hitting Te Kare and smashing his machine into two pieces. The smash occurred at about 6.30pm.

Kearns, of the Waitemata Serious Crash Unit, said it appeared Asa had not been doing anything wrong.

The 17-year-old male drivers of both cars were reportedly heading home to Kaiwaka after picking someone up from Auckland airport when the crash happened.

Early indications suggested the boys were not involved in the boy racer scene but had been "egging each other on" and "made a poor judgment call", Kearns said.

"Nobody has been charged yet. We don't generally lay charges for some time until we've got all the statements and a proper informed decision is made. That's unlikely to be for some months.

"We're still speaking to witnesses so it will be a while before we're finished with that."

More than 100 friends and family members attended Te Kare's funeral in Te Rapa, Hamilton on Friday.

A kahu huruhuru (feather cloak) was draped over his intricately carved coffin, which was also adorned with flowers.

Asa, nicknamed Acer, was described as the strength and foundation of his family.

Mourners at his tangi spoke of a man with a huge smile and a twinkle in his eye, who lived for his family and friends and had a special knack of turning up on their doorsteps unannounced.

His adult children Leilani and Clinton wrote: "With open arms he always embraced and shared his wisdom. He told us to love unconditionally and always give freely of yourself and your time. A free spirit you have always been, we are honoured to have had such a beautiful father."

Te Kare moved to Hamilton two years ago with his wife, Glenys, who was his high-school sweetheart. The couple had been based in Auckland but also spent time in Hawaii, where many members of his family lived. He worked in insurance before trying his hand at car sales. He worked at Moyes Panmure with his best friend Lindsay Joyce, who told mourners he was stoked he'd introduced his buddy to greyhound racing.

Te Kare was riding back to Hamilton after laying to rest one of his six brothers-in-law, Wayne Whittaker, on Friday at his Kawakawa home.

The Herald on Sunday understands Whittaker passed away suddenly after a stroke in Whangarei Hospital.

Whittaker's wife and Te Kare's sister-in-law Sue said the family was "shellshocked" by the double loss.

"Everyone knows what a tragedy it is. It's two unexpected tragedies."

She was unsure of details about the two young drivers.

"I guess it will all come out in the coroner's inquest. We will sit down and talk about it as a family. I'm still in a numb state. Glenys is shellshocked at the moment."

Te Kare's brother-in-law Malcolm Hayes broke down at the funeral as he recalled the last time he saw him - after the family had blessed the Whittakers' Kawakawa home following the funeral.

He hoped the two men had found each other and were "riding free".

Asa's uncle, Nathan Te Kare, came from Hawaii to attend his nephew's funeral. "His legacy will continue through his whanau," he said.

rebecca.milne@hos.co.nz