Easy Rider victims remembered
For some relatives of victims in the Easy Rider boating tragedy, playing in the Karetai Cup helped them deal with the grief.
Seven of the eight who drowned in the Foveaux Strait tragedy in 2012 were members of David Karetai’s family – including his brother, Rewai. The victims were all rugby league fans and the Karetai Cup is held annually in their memory.
David’s son, Wiremu, and others in the family have played in the league game since its inception in 2012.
It is contested by Winton Warlords and Cooks at the Southland Rugby League ground in Invercargill.
‘‘Playing in the game helped heal a bit of the pain [for Wiremu and other relatives] in the first few years ... they were playing for the family,’’ David said.
Wiremu and his cousins – Ramera Chambers, Tawhiri Karetai, Taina Karetai and B Jay Kingi-Karetai – played on Saturday, with Winton Warlords winning 30-28. It was 16-12 to Warlords at halftime. However, Cooks have the best record in the Karetai Cup winning it six times.
‘‘It’s special to play in it and means a lot to us,’’ Wiremu, of the Warlords team, said.
Cooks player Chee Turuwhenua said: ‘‘It’s a big one for us ... a lot of the boys knew the guys on the boat,’’ he said.
As well as Rewai Karetai, others to drown when the Easy Rider capsized were Shane Topi, Peter Bloxham, John Henry Karetai, Boe Taikawa Gillies, David George Fowler, Odin Karetai and Paul Fowler-Karetai. Sole survivor Dallas Reedy was found in the water after clinging to a petrol can for 18 hours.
Southland Rugby League committee person Alana Lockhorst was pleased to see families of the victims at Saturday’s game.
‘‘The game’s not about winning ... it’s to remember and show respect [to the people who died].’’