In March 2022 Unitec past and present students, staff and contractors were united in sadness as the news of the passing of our beloved Taani Vehikite swept through Campus.
Taani, a valued member of our Unitec Security Whanau was known on Campus as a gentle smiling giant who was helpful, hard-working and dedicated. No job was ever too big or too small and he was nicknamed the Door Whisperer for his ease and ability to open a door that had refused to open for anyone else. Taani patrolled Campus corridors, roads and car parks keeping us all safe for just over seven years. While certainly looking like a force to be reckoned with when you saw him coming his calming nature was reassuring and kind to all who needed help.
For those of us who worked alongside of Taani he became whanau, and we knew him to also be a devoted husband, a doting father and very proud of his Tongan heritage. Every Tongan student became his nephew or niece once he met them, and he would always be encouraging of their learning journey.
Taani was also a great storyteller who had the ability to have you laughing one minute and crying the next. His dedication and service to give of his all and of his best provided not only for his family here but his village and family in his beloved Tonga.
In our happiest of thoughts, we hope Taani and Andrew are continuing their fishing adventures together at home on the water in their happy place never far from our thoughts.
Missing you my Brother
Missing a beautiful soul who will never be forgotten.
Much respect,
Yvonne
Whenever I pass by a patrol car, I will always remember our friendly wave and smile to each other. I never thought on that sunny afternoon that would be the last time I would ever see you. I miss you, my friend!
Unitec whanau certainly miss you both Taani and Andrew. Gone physically but your wairua are integral parts of the Unitec Campus and whanau.
We miss you uso. Rest in peace.
Thank you Taani, Thanks for being here for us; Thanks for always showing interest in what the rest of us are doing; Thanks for taking the time to talk to us; Thanks for making us look always for the driver of the security vehicles so that we could wave back; Thanks for checking to see if we were okay….the comment or two which searched inside of us for our best. Thanks Taani.
My very best wishes to the family. Taani was a lovely, respectful and kind man. So sad he left us so soon.
Condolences to his colleagues and whanau. He was a lovely man, always friendly and helpful. I also had him open my office door for me on occasion when the lock was acting up. RIP
Taani and Andrew are in our thoughts especially this week as we celebrate Matariki and the significance of the star, Pohutukawa who helps us release those we have lost over the year to their waka climbing high in to the Night Skies to watch over us.
Will always be missed. great soul.
Truly Taani was a person who touched many hearts here at Unitec. His big smile and mischievous twinkle is his eye made him so inviting to talk to and his gentle and kind wairua emanated from him. Keeping Taani and Andrew in our thoughts this Matariki, they are both sorely missed, wishing them good journeys into the beyond and peace forevermore.
I am so sorry to hear of this loss – love and condolences to Taani’s whānau and colleagues.
thank you, Taani, for being a custodian and friend over our time at Unitec. You helped our School in the north and south ends of campus, and always kept a close eye on things at particularly tricky times. You did Unitec proud and your family proud by always being a person of positive and gentle persuasion. Nothing was too much trouble for you. I really enjoyed our chats, and appreciate how you were there for so many people through different levels of the pandemic when required. Rest In Peace, Taani, and condolences to all your family and friends. Thank you for being such a good person. Godspeed.
Taani and Andrew will live in our hearts and thoughts forever. They were practising ordinary greatness through their work. Whenever on duty, Taani always greeted me if I left late those days. What a lovely man and a great guardian for Unitec and our Whanau. My warmest thoughts are with their families and our Whanau. RIP
I am missing the early morning chats Taani. A man with a very kind Soul. RIP mate you are already missed.
A beautiful man, this is a great loss.
Dear Taani, it was so reassuring knowing you were always on call and that your calming presence was not far away. RIP and Arohanui
We lost a great person, I am grateful for your help during lockdowns. You are the person who kept us accessing campus.
That is such sad news. My heartfelt condolences to his family. He was always so friendly and nice to me and so often helped me with car parking issues. Will sure miss him around campus.
I miss seeing your big smile as we wave and drive past each other near the marae.
You were the best and the most accommodating Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka – Unitec security guard ever.
No reira, E te Rangatira Taani, moe mai i roto i te aroha o te Ātua. Moe mai ra.
Tanie was my Tongan Brother – I visited his home village in 2019 and was welcomed by his family as one of their own. I learned simple humility from this man. He epitomised the true Tongan spirit. Strong but calm always. I will always remember you with great fondness Bro.
A gold-toothed smile, chuckle and twinkling eyes were often the response from Taani. A lovely person who would always greet you, whether on foot or waving from the cab of a Security ute.
May Taani rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him.
I didn’t know Taani personally but I remember when we first passed each other in the Hub a few years back he flashed that friendly warm smile of his and I smiled back. We recognized each others gold teeth and instantly went from strangers to kau maheni (acquaintances). Toka ihe nonga moe fiemalie Taani.
A sad loss of two great men in the last few months. Andrew and Taani both gone far too soon. Thoughts are with their team and families.
I didn’t even know his name but that friendly wave from his truck while patrolling whenever we saw each other will always be in my heart.
RIP Taani