So in another life, I worked in private radio and with the IRN news team under Ed Taylor.  I distinctly remember the day when a teenage Greg Boyed walked into the newsroom for the first time.

He made an impression. He was tall and skinny and his hair was swish and he had a Roger Ramjet chin and then he opened his mouth and a big ballsy voice came out. He knew he had a good voice and it was a source of entertainment to go and watch Greg read the news and watch his body and mouth contort to get the best sound ever. He was one of those newsreaders who always wanted to smile. 

But right from the start, we knew he was ambitious and talented and relatively humble.  He was a true broadcaster.  A journalist, a presenter, a producer.  He could do everything and do it well.  He was no one trick pony.  And he was funny and caring towards his co-workers. 

And like anyone who strives for high standards he could be terribly disappointed if he didn’t reach them.  If he had one weakness perhaps it was that he cared too much. He sometimes hid his disappointment in a swagger that some people misread.

It is a terrible day for many in the business and this radio station and a reminder to always be kind to yourself first.

Meanwhile, in other poignant news, I was very moved by the repatriation yesterday of the remains of 27 New Zealand Army soldiers and one child buried in Malaysia and Singapore.  It’s called Te Auraki, or the return. 

The New Zealand Defence Force with the casket of a child among the returned remains. Photo / Greg Bowker

As I commented yesterday afternoon, the pictures on the news will be affecting and they were. 28 coffins, including a tiny white one. Over 160 pallbearers drawn from defence personnel. The hakas, the solemnity and the emotion of the relatives finally reunited.

This morning in the paper, I spied a notice in the Memorial Services column for one of the repatriated. Sergeant Isaac King. Isaac will be celebrated at the Papakura RSA this Friday at 11am.

Now Isaac’s daughter went to school with my partner, and his wife was on the telly last night and it gave Helen a bit of a jolt.

She remembers growing up with the King kids and she remembers the big hole that Isaac left behind in the family. His absence hung over the household. Now, Isaac’s daughter has just finished a battle against a health issue and she’s been brave and she’s done well.  So the return of her Dad at this time is an incredible event of closure.

It needed a change of government policy for this to happen and what a good change that was.  It is a kind thing to do and in the wake of today’s events I think kindness is something we all need to strive for.

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