'Free spirit' Jack Pellett-Kaye, who was killed in a car crash in Taranaki, has been remembered by loved ones as a person with a 'heart full of adventure'.
'Free spirit' Jack Pellett-Kaye, who was killed in a car crash in Taranaki, has been remembered by loved ones as a person with a 'heart full of adventure'.
Police have named 22-year-old Jack William Pellett-Kaye as the victim of a Taranaki car crash.
A Givealittle page has raised $12,000 for Pellett-Kaye’s funeral and headstone.
His funeral will be held in Stratford on Monday, with open days for friends and family.
A “free spirit” killed in a car crash in Taranaki has been remembered by loved ones as a person with a “heart full of adventure”.
Tributes for the young man have flooded social media, and a Givealittle page has been set up for his loved ones.
“On December 14, 2024, we lost Jack Pellett-Kaye in a tragic car accident at just 22 years old. Jack was a son, a grandson, a brother, an uncle, a partner, and a friend to so many,” the page reads.
“Jack was hard not to love, with his free spirit, a cheeky nature and a heart full of adventure. Jack lived life to the fullest, always chasing new experiences and making memories with those he loved. Jack had a wild soul and a humorous spirit which will make him unforgettable to all.”
Any funds raised will go towards the funeral arrangements and a headstone, “to help ease the financial burden on Jack’s family during this tragic time”.
'Free spirit' Jack Pellett-Kaye, who was killed in a car crash in Taranaki, has been remembered by loved ones as a person with a 'heart full of adventure'.
The page has raised at least $12,000 so far.
A relative shared funeral arrangements, saying the service will be held in Stratford on Monday.
“Jack will be at my home on Thursday. We would like a day for his family to spend some time with him but we also know his true family expands well beyond us, so on Friday and Saturday my door will be open to anyone that would like to come and spend some time with Jack, share stories etc,” they wrote.
“We will be keeping Sunday for family, also so we can regather ourselves for Monday.”
The relative thanked everyone who had “gone above and beyond” to help prepare for Pellett-Kaye’s farewell.
“He was one truly-loved young man and legends never die, they just move on to bigger things. Let’s help him get there with a big sendoff.”
One of Pellett-Kaye’s family members posted a tribute on Facebook, saying: “I met you as a young boy, wild, obnoxious, funny, loving, I’m farewelling you as a young man, you never changed.”
Another family member wrote: “I love you brother! You rest easy now in love and peace. I have no words. I will truly miss you. The memories I have are ours and I’ll hold onto! till we meet again brother.”
A loved one posted on Pellett-Kaye’s Facebook page, saying he was “a big brother to many”.
“My brother, to get the phone call early hours in the morning ... broke many of us,” they wrote.
“U will be loved and never forgotten, rest in love.”
Another posted: “My promise to you is I’ll do my absolute best to mend your sister’s broken heart but I also know that will never be filled or healed, it went with you brother.”
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
