‘We’re so sorry we couldn’t do more’: Doctor’s emotional speech at tangi for boy killed by dogs

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

A powerful haka and mourners full of emotion as Timothy Rolleston-Bryan is laid to rest.

Staff from the Katikati Medical Centre sobbed as they spoke of their grief at not being able to save a four-year-old Bay of Plenty boy mauled by dogs, while new details of the attack emerged at the boy’s tangi. Tony Wall was there.

Doctors and staff from the Katikati Medical Centre, who tried in vain to save the life of a little boy fatally mauled by three dogs on Friday, could barely contain their emotions as they spoke at his tangi on Tuesday.

GP Jess Ussher sobbed as she told the crowd gathered for the tangi of Timothy Rolleston-Bryan: “We are so sorry he’s gone. We are so sorry we couldn’t do more.”

Timothy Rolleston-Bryan’s grandfather, Timothy Bryan, and some of his cousins at the tangi on Tuesday.

Another staffer said: “We all did our best in the moment - we’re just so sorry to the whānau.”

It was a highly emotional send-off for Timothy Tu’uaki Rolleston-Bryan, known as Tim, who was attacked by three dogs as he and their owner walked the animals near their homes at Tuapiro Marae, about 5km north of Katikati in Bay of Plenty.

Mabel Burt, an actress who appeared in Whale Rider and who is an aunt of Tim’s grandmother, Amy Rolleston, told Stuff Tim had grown up with the dogs and walked them by a stream most mornings with the female owner.

“But [on Friday] something happened, one dog led the others and the lady who was walking - the owner of the dogs - attempted to try to stop them and attempted to shield [Tim’s] body - she offered her own life.”

Tim was just four years old when he was killed.

Burt said the woman was still recovering in Tauranga Hospital.

Burt said the woman’s partner visited the Otawhiwhi marae at Bowentown near Waihi Beach, where the tangi was held, on Monday evening.

“There was just a ceremony of forgiveness, because they’re neighbours, there’s no fences, they are family.

“The healing has already started - there’s no malice.”

Tim’s namesake, his grandfather Timothy Bryan who along with Amy Rolleston had been raising the boy since his mother died about four years ago of illness, tried to make a speech but was overcome with emotion.

“We’re all gonna miss you,” he said as his mokopuna hugged him.

Several of Tim’s cousins gave short eulogies. “We will remember your cheeky smile,” said one. “Enjoy your mum’s company.”

Another said: “Be annoying for your mum.”

A rahui is in place on a stream near where the attack happened.

Tim’s casket was carried off the marae to a rousing haka.

Burt said there was a sense of confusion and bewilderment at the tragic nature of Tim’s death. “We’re trying to deal with guilt factors.

“We’ve received nothing but love from the community. It’s one of those occasions where people say, ‘there but for the grace of God’…”

Burt said she understood the owner of the dogs helped bundle Tim into a car and he was rushed to the medical centre.

“Unfortunately the child was too brutally bitten and lost a lot of blood there at the medical centre.”

A temporary rahui had been placed on the stream near where the attack happened.

The three dogs involved in the attack, which Western Bay of Plenty District Council said were not registered, were destroyed on Monday.

The council said on Wednesday the dogs were an American Bulldog cross, a Border Collie - Mastiff cross and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Border Collie cross. None of the breeds are classified as menacing under the Dog Control Act 1996, the council added.