March 24, 2023
Comrades seek return of warrior from Ukraine
Former defence minister Ron Mark says every effort to be made to get the body of former New Zealand Defence Force soldier Kane Te Tai back from Ukraine.
Mr Te Tai has been fighting with the Ukranian international legion and died when his team came into heavy contact with Russian forces while clearing a trench in the Vulhedar area of Donbas.
His body was retrieved by Ukranian forces and will be taken to Kyiv.
Mr Mark, who met Mr Te Tai last year while delivering aid to Ukraine, says he went down fighting hard.
He says Mr Te Tai’s former colleagues and friends are upset at the loss and working to bring home his body.