There were emotional scenes in Hastings as hundreds of people gathered to farewell 18-year-old Ariki Rigby.
The young woman, whose family has described her as beautiful and bright-eyed, was found dead in a burnt-out car last Monday three days after police first visited the wreckage.
But police continue to refuse an interview on their homicide investigation.
It's quite clear, Ariki was dearly loved.
"I wouldn't do this for anybody else, but for her, I will," her sister Anahera Rigby said.
Anahera spoke to the hundreds gathered in Hastings to remember Ariki.
"But it is so hard to talk about her, her life, when we would like to just have her right here with us... Aye sister girl," she said.
Flanked by her parents and siblings, Anahera told those gathered her sister would give the shirt off her back for those she loved.
"We don't like to let anybody in aye sister, you know we like to be hard aye. But this time, we need this love. Because this is hard... I'm gonna go home after this sister and you're not gonna be there," Anahera said.
The emotion was still very raw for not only her whānau but the entire community.
A Police representative was expected to speak at the tangi but they pulled out at the last minute.
"So they won't be sharing here today, but again if I can share these words to the detectives, success to you in your endeavours for justice for our girl," Michael Ngahuka said.
Newshub has asked the police why they didn't speak and whether they have apologised to Ariki's whānau over initially failing to discover her body.
Police replied that they're working closely with the family but have continued to refuse requests for an interview.
"I made a promise to my sister, we're going to live, we're going to live differently, we're going to overcome this, we're going to live for you," Anahera said.
And as they wrapped up the service in prayer a powerful haka erupted across the room
Saying their final goodbyes and vowing not to rest until their "beautiful, bright-eyed girl" gets the justice she deserves.
