The Waikato refugee and Muslim community lost one of its prominent leaders, Ismail Dirye Gamadid, to Covid-19 last month. We look at the legacy of his life. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.

The Covid-19 pandemic claimed Waikato's much-loved and prominent refugee leader last month. Ismail Diriye Gamadid passed away in Mogadishu, Somalia on 25 May after a three-week struggle with Covid-19. He was on a humanitarian visit to flood victims in an area also affected severely by Covid-19.

At the time of his death, he was serving as Minister for Agriculture in the region of his birth - Puntland, an autonomous province in Somalia.

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At the Hamilton Gardens on a sunny day in June, nearly 100 people have gathered to remember and commemorate the life and legacy of Ismail, fondly known as a 'gift to Hamilton'.

It's an emotional farewell to this popular Somali leader. Ismail arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Somalia in the mid-1990s. For 20 years he served his community as President of Waikato Muslim Association and Waikato Refugee Forum.

There's a cross-section of people at the gathering. Politicians, community social workers, government representatives from the Ministry of Social Development and people across the Muslim, refugee, immigrant and many African communities from Waikato, Auckland and even Canterbury.

Ismail was clearly loved by everyone whose lives he touched.

Dr Mustafa Farouk originally from Nigeria, leads FIANZ, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand. He and Ismail shared a close friendship over the years.

" was definitely larger than life. Ismail loved to tell stories - he always had a proverb, a story for everything. Some stories that only an African person could appreciate. You'd never be bored if Ismail was around. When you travelled with him he always came prepared. You knew there'll always be a lot of coffee, food and you'd always be entertained," Farouk says.

"But most of all, he cared for people. No matter who you were, Ismail was always there for you. He also had a strong command over Somali language and history."

Ismail's love for Somalia drew him back there a year and a half ago to serve in the regional government of Puntland, in the northeast of the country. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details