March 07, 2023
Beach Haven tears for slain neighbour
A leader of Te Raki Paewhenua’s Māori community says a huge outpouring of sadness has followed the death of young Samoan man Joshuah Tasi.
A 17-year-old and a 14-year-old have been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing him in his car of Friday after a minor collision in Beachhaven.
Te Rata Hikairo says hundreds of people gathered at Beachhaven Community House last night, with karakia led by ministers from Baptist, Catholic, Ratana, Destiny and Samoan churches.
They then went across the road to where the incident occurred for more prayers.
“As the evening went on we had the privilege of having the marae joining us and doing an official karakia whakawaatea and tikanga Māori as well so it was a real sense of the community wrapping around our neighbours and our whanau and our people and also sending our love to Josh and the Tasi whanau,” he says.
Mr Hikairo says Beachhaven is a strong community with many multi-generational families.