Sydney KINGI Obituary

The team at Unitec are incredibly sad to hear about Sydney's passing. Sydney worked with us at Unitec for over a decade and touched all of our lives. He was so amazing to work with.. He not only helped many students become great electricians and engineers but he also helped his colleagues when they needed support and friendship.
He was a great man. The best.
Sydney we missed you funeral but will remember you forever.
He kotuku rerenga tahi
Kia hora te marino, Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te Karohirohi i mua i tou huarahi.

Huia and Reece I have just read of Syd´s passing. I am so sad that I missed his funeral.
I met your dad at the same time he met your mum many years ago in London. Syd was also our best man when Luc and I married in 1972. I have lots of lovely memories of our get togethers over the years. My love, thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. xx

On behalf of my sister Valerie Moana Kingi Reeves I would like to say how much she loved our brother and that he is with her son Kane, Justine, Pamela and our Mum and Dad as well as all our whanau who have gone before. God bless you my brother, love your sister Val.

Rest in peace and love now that you have gained your angel wings my dear brother. Your beautiful nature and outlook on life lives on in your children and grandchildren. You achieved so much and I am so proud to be your sister. My love for you is eternal.

Very sad to read the notice of Syd's passing . We were school friends at Napier Boys High School in the same class from 3A onwards. Syd used to call in at home in Maraenui on his way to school and we biked to school together. Had lunch together sometimes and rode home together. I recall playing hide and seek on the hill with Syd in his parents Bedford van and myself in Dad's 1936 De Soto. Pretty sure either parents didn't know about that. We were also together at Linton Army Camp bunked in the same 4 man hut when having been selected for NCO school Cadet training. Lost touch in later years but met up at a school reunion and another time in Queen Street bumping into each other. Syd in Navy uniform.
I have never forgotten Syd even after 60 years as he was a strong well educated, disciplined and bright young man with a positive outlook. My condolences to Syd's family.

Sydney was a much valued Rear Commodore of Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club. He was a tremendous asset to the club. His many contributions included being Race Officer for our Sunday races, our Health and Safety Officer, helping run our venue hire business and organising and mantaining our yachts and equipment. Sydney - you were hugely respected and much loved by all at the Club. You were always there to provide help and guidance to us - and always with such dignity and a smile. Rest in peace our dear friend. Our deepest sympathies to Sydney's whanau. A great man who will be sorely missed.

We first got to know Sydney when Malcolm applied for a job at the Auckland University of Technology about the year 2000. It was a privilege and calming experience to have my Whanau accompany me during that interview. Sydney was on the search committee and asked the obligatory questions about the meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi. I didn´t get the job but we immediately struck up an enduring, close friendship.

Sydney and Justine´s son Reece then stayed with us in Stony Brook, Long Island NY for a few days on his way to graduate studies at Pennsylvania State University.

Sydney and Justine sub sequentially visited us on their own pilgrimage to visit Reece and later our daughter Erinna in London. All happy and treasured memories.

They were a wonderful couple who showed that differences in race and culture were no impediment to a successful and fulfilling life and marriage. Sydney was such a quiet, unassuming, respectful and dignified man. When he spoke, people stopped and listened to what he had to say.

Over the years we enjoyed many hours discussing Maoridom and all its implications in the modern world.
During one of our last visits with Sydney, he was able to joyfully join us in 2017 at our 50th wedding anniversary at the Birkenhead-Northcote Yacht Club.

Sydney you were a prince of a man. Thank you for enriching our lives in so many ways.

Rest in peace dear friend, Haere ra!

Stony Brook NY USA.