"The death occurred at the Cook Hospital today of Mr. Tamarangi Taihuka, aged 24, a returned soldier who was the first member of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force to die in Gisborne. Mr. Taihuka was born at Waihirere and educated at the Wae-renga-a-hika School and latterly at Ihe Waerenga-a-hika Native Boys’ High School. On leaving school he took up farming on his own account and followed that occupation until he volunteered and was accepted for the Second Echelon going overseas. He was in Greece and Crete and was evacuated from Crete just prior to the conflict owing to illness. On his return to New Zealand he had to enter the Wellington Hospital and later the Cook Hospital, Gisborne. Much sympathy will be extended to his sisters, Mrs. Terekia and Miss Kate Taihuka. A service will be held at Waihirere at 1.30 p.m. to-morrow, after which the funeral will leave at 2,15 p.m., arriving at the soldiers’ plot at the Taruheru cemetery at 2.45 p.m. The Gisborne R.S.A. is arranging a conveyance to leave the 11.5. A. rooms at 2.15 p.m. and is inviting all members of the Second N.Z.E.F. who are available to attend."

GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXIX, ISSUE 20943, 17 NOVEMBER 1942, PAGE 6