Alan Te Hiko

"Alan Te Hiko was being treated for Covid-19 in the intensive care unit at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital when he died at the age of 58 on the afternoon of Friday 4 September 2020, the 23rd Covid-19 related death in New Zealand. He contracted the virus at his Mt Wellington Americold coolstore workplace early in August. The coolstore was linked to other Covid-19 cases. Alan’s death was the first death of the Auckland August cluster. One of seven siblings, sadly a regular weekend visit catching up with family in Tokoroa early in August proved deadly when his younger brother Nigel also contracted the disease. Alan was a team leader at Americold and a devoted Warriors’ fan. Michael Tonga worked under Te Hiko and described his boss as a “natural born leader” who was always the hardest worker in the room but who also enjoyed rugby league banter - particularly about his favourite team, the Warriors. Alan’s tangi took place at Ruapeka Marae, and he was laid to rest in Tokoroa Cemetery on 10 September 2000. His colleagues - all donning face masks - carried their friend’s casket at the cemetery. Alan’s younger brother Nigel died on 15 September and was buried not far from Alan in Tokoroa Cemetery."