Crash victim remembered as ‘king of Ka¯piti Coast’

The man who died in a car crash in Pukerua Bay on Monday morning last week, Huta Thomas, is being described as a rangatira in his family, the hip-hop and reggae scene and the Ka¯ piti Coast community.

Thomas’ partner of 19 years, Ana Montgomery-Neutze, said his death was ‘‘an absolute shock, the worst thing that will ever happen to me’’.

‘‘Huta was the most loyal, giving, kind person that I’ll ever know. Every single day he spent giving and looking after others,’’ she said. Thomas was a loving partner who was her ‘‘biggest cheerleader’’ throughout her career.

‘‘People, even the littlest kids, gravitated towards him. He naturally led by example but never thought of himself as a leader,’’ she said.

Thomas, who lived in Paraparaumu, had four children who were ‘‘absolutely devastated’’, Montgomery-Neutze said.

He was a well-known community figure in Ka¯ piti Coast and within the hip-hop and reggae scene, founding the DJ collective The Paepae Soundsystem in 2007 with L.A.B. bassist Ara AdamsTamatea.

Musician Israel Starr joined The Paepae Soundsystem 12 years ago. He said Thomas was a mentor and a good friend.

‘‘Huta had so much mana within the industry, and he gave us mana through that association.

‘‘He was an OG [a term for someone who is respected], which gets thrown around a lot but in this case, it really applies to Huta. Everyone respected him,’’ Starr said.

Starr said you could ask practically anyone in the hip-hop or reggae community, and they would know Thomas. He has received social media tributes from musicians including Che Fu and DJ Sirvere following his death.

Starr described Thomas as the Clarence Avant of the New Zealand music scene, in reference to the legendary American music producer.

Thomas would work behind the scenes at music events, but had a lot of influence.

He was a successful businessman in construction but continued to give his time to the music industry ‘‘because he loved it’’, Starr said.

‘‘It was never about money for Huta.’’

Noel Woods from Grove Roots, a Ma¯ ori music collective in Lower Hutt, said Huta was a huge part of their development as musicians.

‘‘He brought others up with him. Huta was a rangatira not only in music but in his community.

‘‘Huta was a humble man, but a storyteller with a good sense of humour. He was always hustling on behalf of other artists to help them make it.’’

Doug Brown grew up with Thomas in Paraparaumu. They skated and played basketball together from the age of 11.

Thomas showed Brown turn tables for the first time in the 90s and inspired him to become a DJ. He was an inspirational figure in the local community, Brown said.

‘‘He was such a stand-up dude,’’ said Brown. ‘‘The king of Ka¯piti Coast. Everyone knew him.’’

The tangihanga for Thomas started on Tuesday and was scheduled to end on Friday, when the family was to take Thomas on a boat ride around Ka¯ piti Island before his burial.