Haka rings out for 'shy guy' Currie

Chris Currie's father, Wayne (left) and brother Logan (right) help to carry his coffin to the Taupo cemetery. Picture / Amos Chapple

As silence fell across nearly 500 mourners who turned out to farewell Chris Currie yesterday, a haka reverberated through the Taupo cemetery where he was laid to rest.

It came from the hearts of his rugby mates, the Taupo Sports Senior A - the team, people said yesterday, that Chris Currie held together.

The 20-year-old lost his life last Friday night when he was hit by a block of concrete while driving on the Southern Motorway.

"Chris was such a shy guy he wouldn't want this here, I could tell you that," his uncle Mark Vincent told mourners.

He took his nephew on as an apprentice builder two years ago and said he was the son he never had.

On top of the coffin Mr Vincent put his nephew's builder's apron and a certificate of recognition from the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation for the work the 20-year-old had done towards achieving his building certificate.

Mr Vincent said the family had suffered two blows now.

Chris' cousin Stephen Lowe, who also worked as an apprentice builder, was killed in a car accident in August 2003, Mr Vincent said.

"I honestly believe he's up in heaven with his grandfather, he's up there with Stephen, he was an apprentice carpenter. And now Chris is on his way there, I believe there's some big projects happening up there."

Mr Vincent said his nephew was in love with Helen McCreadie, whom he had known since intermediate school.

She was sitting beside him in the passenger seat when he died. Two friends were in the back.

His mother, Geraldine Vincent, said she had seen the change in her son since he met Helen.

"Our aroha for each other will get us through, as will our uncompromising compassion, this was Chris' way," she said.

His sister Nicola spoke of a brother she adored.

"He knew I could do great, he told me that a lot, and now I'm going to show him," she said.

His rugby coaches, from Taupo Sports and King Country where he played age-group rugby, spoke of a player who held his team together.

"We love you, we're playing for you this year brother," said his King Country coach, Justin Marsh.

* A 14-year-old boy has been charged with Chris Currie's murder.