Piripi Dion Ratima

Piri started at Masterton's Harley Street School in August 1991, after his parents Raymond and Toni moved back to Wairarapa from Invercargill. There was a picture on principal John Barlow's office wall of a smiley face with pink cheeks and a tongue poking out, with the words: "This is Piri. My hair is spikey. It is short". Piri was quiet and unassuming, but exceptionally popular. His teachers all had a soft spot for him. Piri was found dead at his grandparents' Judds Rd home on June 26, 1992, alongside the bodies of his two younger brothers, Barney, 4 and Stacey, 2. They were lying on a bed covered with a blanket, and the family bible. They were killed by their father.

Seven family members were laid out for a tangi at Te Ore Ore marae after they were massacred by Raymond Wahia Ratima at their Masterton home on 26 June 1992.

Ratima, who is considered one of New Zealand's worst killers, killed seven members of his extended family, including his three young sons, using a hammer and knives. He arrived at 43 Judds Road about 9.15pm and let himself in with the back door key he'd nicked when he was booted out. He waited until 10pm to begin his killing spree.

Ratima murdered his sister-in-law Nicola Ferguson (20), her partner Bevan Tepu (21), their child Stephen (3), Ms Ferguson's brother Phillip Ferguson Jnr (14), and his own sons Piripi (7), Barney (5) and Stacey (2). He also killed the Nicola and Bevan’s unborn baby, deliberately stabbing Nicola in the belly.

Ratima pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment

See also:

• Faces of Innocents: The Ratima massacre - remembering the children of Judds Rd
• Raymond Ratima denied parole
• Ratima: 'I'm not ready for freedom'