Kiwi soldier's daughter honoured

Manu Vatuvei and Kaytlen Tamatea. Photo / Chris Loufte

Fallen New Zealand soldier Luke Tamatea was remembered in a touching moment in Auckland last night that left his 8-year-old daughter shedding "happy tears".

Tamatea lost his life to a roadside bomb in August 2012 while serving in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan.

The soldier's daughter, Kaytlen, proudly wore her father's military medals as she was granted a wish to lead the New Zealand Warriors out at Mt Smart Stadium for the NRL clash against the Manly Sea Eagles.

As a photograph of her father was displayed on the big screen, Kaytlen marched the Warriors out of the tunnel and also got to meet her favourite player, Manu Vatuvei.

She said the experience, which was arranged by the Auckland RSA, made her very proud of her father.

"It's one of the best days of my life. I was stood in the tunnel so nervous my legs were shaking, but it was so cool going out with the team in front of all those people," Kaytlen told the Herald on Sunday.

"I was given a signed teddy-bear by the players and I also got to meet Manu. That was so cool, it gave me happy tears."

Tamatea, 31, from Kawerau was travelling in a humvee transporting a fellow soldier to see a doctor, when the explosion claimed his life and those of fellow Kiwis Jacinda Baker, 26, and Richard Harris, 21.

The tribute to Tamatea didn't manage to inspire the Warriors to a much-needed win, going down 32-12 to Manly.

The pain wasn't just on the scoreboard for the Warriors. Star play-maker Shaun Johnson was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.