Three-year-old boy drowned in septic tank farewelled in Cairns Esplanade haka
The Cairns Maori community has come together in a heartbreaking tribute to a fun-loving three-year-old boy who drowned in a septic tank at a rural Far Northern property.
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THE Cairns Maori community has come together in a heartbreaking tribute to a fun-loving three-year-old boy who drowned in a septic tank at a rural Far Northern property.
On the invitation of grieving father Glenn Wiremu Taiapa up to 20 mourners gathered on the Cairns Esplanade, on Monday to perform a haka in tribute of Tiwanaku Pineamine Taiapa.
Mr Taiapa said his boy fell into the septic tank on January 2 while living on a property at Koah.
The rescue helicopter was called but nothing could be done to save the three-year-old.
“It should never have happened, I don’t know how its happened,” he said.
“I am just taking it day by day, it’s unreal.”
On Monday Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan confirmed officers are investigating the death of the three-year-old.
“The incident is being investigated,” he said.
“The coroner has been briefed.”
No charges have been laid.
The angry and grief stricken father had travelled from the Whitsundays to make funeral arrangements.
He raised questions about how his son came to fall into the septic tank.
“He was on a rural property, and he’s gone out the back and fallen into a septic tank,” he said.
“Obviously, I know it was an accident, but it should have never happened
“It doesn’t get any worse than that.”
Mr Taiapa said in Maori culture a haka is performed before the burial and after the tangi – a traditional funeral rite that takes three days.
Confused children looked on while about six Maori men performed the haka as other relatives and members of the Cairns Maori community choked back tears.
A hearse parked up opposite the Cairns hockey fields before traditional dress was draped over the casket.
“He was a beautiful boy, he loved to dance and loved to DJ,” Mr Taiapa said
“He’ll be sorely missed.”
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