What a very sad day – killed in Afghanistan were Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, Private Richard Harris, 21, and Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31.
Jacinda Baker was the first New Zealand female to be killed in action since 1966. Richard Harris had joined the army whilst still a teenager. Corporal Tamatea was a father of four.
Our colleagues from Maori Television's Te Kaea have just spoken with Luke Tamatea's grandmother, Loraine O'Brien.
She told them her grandson had sought to reassure her the last time they spoke.
Watch the video for the full interview.