Two a penny

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Mourners tell of lifelong friends

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Thethree men involved in a car crash that left two of them dead were friends since they were "wee fellas" and "loved each other to bits".
David Setu Patrick Iafeta, 19, and Jimmy Junior Rere, 20, both of Porirua, were passengers in a Honda car that hit the barrier in the southbound lane of State Highway 1 near the Aotea Quay off-ramp about 10pm on Saturday.
Both men were thrown from the car, one on to the motorway, the other into a car park about 40 metres below, near the Interislander ferry terminal.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to Wellington Hospital and is understood to be recovering well after surgery.
They died at the scene.
Police would not comment further about the crash yesterday.
Early investigations into the crash suggested the driver had not been drinking and the passengers were wearing seatbelts.
The trio, who worked as bouncers at a central city bar, were on their way to work when the crash happened.
"We're still in shock and can't believe this has happened.
Mr Rere's brother, Tunganekore, told The the three were late for work and "started putting the pedal down"."
Yesterday, the families were grieving at their homes surrounded by relatives and friends. It sucks, to be honest.
A spokeswoman for the Iafeta family said Mr Iafeta's body would be taken to a marae later today.
As Mr Rere's parents prepared the family home for their son's body to lie at rest before the funeral, people flicked through photos of the victims and shared some of their favourite memories with each other.
Tunganekore Rere said the trio had been friends since they were "wee fellas" and hardly a day went by when they weren't hanging out with each other.
Tunganekore Rere said the trio had been friends since they were "wee fellas" and hardly a day went by when they weren't hanging out with each other.
"He was a pretty choice brother."
His brother was a "bit of a comedian" who was always smiling. I'm going to miss him heaps. He was always cracking jokes and making people laugh.
"They had this favourite fishing spot they used to go to all the time."
The friends loved to go fishing, but catching the "big one" was not high on their agenda.
"They would leave the lines in the water without bait and then just sit there and muck round, joking and teasing each other. They would chuck their lines in the water, but they didn't bother putting any bait on their lines.
"I'm shocked to hear that you passed away big bro."
Mr Rere's Bebo site was flooded with messages of condolence, with one person saying she would miss his "bear hugs". We are all going to miss you heaps. We are all going to miss you heaps."
Another said: "Jimmy bro, I'm speechless. ."