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The man who died in a car crash
on Auckland's North-Western Motorway yesterday has been named
as Denis Hansen (80),
a leader in Auckland's Maori community
and a former Maori All Black.
His body will be taken to Hoani Waititi Marae in Glen Eden
and then he will be taken to Te Paatu in Northland.
Staunch.
Resolute.
Determined.
A leader.
There's no one word that could perhaps describe
this son of Ngapuhi, Denis Hansen.
He only just reach his 80th year, which hundreds of his near and dear
helped celebrate at the Civic in Auckland.
Now, the masses will be turning up
over the next few days to farewell their elder.
He died yesterday afternoon on Auckland's North-Western Motorway.
Police say he was the only one
in his vehicle when it crashed into a barrier and another car.
Fortunately, the couple in the other vehicle survived,
but not Denis, who died on impact.
What's more, it took a long time
for the family to be informed of their father's death.
A dear friend of his is also coming to terms with the news.
That man worked tirelessly for all Maori, be it for rugby,
committees, marae, he's done it all.
A huge hole is left in his wake.
The Maori leader will lay in state
inside Nga Tumanako meeting house at Hoani Waititi,
and then taken back to Te Paatu Marae in Pamapuria, Northland.
Oriini Tipene-Leach, Te Karere.
Rest in peace.