Crash victim ‘a happy man’ who was starting a new life
Waylon Rerekura is being remembered by his wha¯ nau as a man who was turning his life around.
The 34-year-old was killed when a truck and the car he was driving collided on State Highway 35, east of Gisborne, on Friday night.
Finding out his halfbrother had died sent Torin Rerekura into shock.
‘‘It was just the saddest day of my life, and mum’s obviously, for a mum to lose her son – that’s everybody’s worst nightmare,’’ Torin said.
Waylon grew up in Taupo¯ . The pair shared the same mother, but had different fathers. A third son, Saul, was born to the same father as Waylon.
The brothers weren’t together for most of their lives, however Waylon had come over to Gisborne about two months ago to spend time with Torin and their mother.
‘‘We hadn’t seen him for over 10 or 15 years, so only the last two months I was starting to get to know him,’’ Torin said.
‘‘He was just a really humble, really good man. He came back to Gisborne to start a new life and to be with me and my mum, because mum’s getting old now.’’
Waylon had spent time in prison previously, and during his last stint had organised to move back to Gisborne to start turning his life around.
‘‘They got him a house here, he was doing well, he wanted to settle down and keep out of trouble and keep things good with his probation,’’ Torin said.
‘‘He did have a rough life, I guess, but he was a happy man.’’