Whānau and friends of the 15-year-old killed on a Whangārei Boys' High School caving trip on Tuesday are saying their final farewells.
It comes after a body was found late on Tuesday evening in the search for a missing student after earlier reports the group of 17 from the school got into trouble in Abbey Caves in Whangārei during severe weather.
Police confirmed on Wednesday morning they found a body after the boy was swept away on Tuesday morning. The family confirmed it was Karnin Ahorangi Petera who died.
The school trip went ahead despite weather warnings and watches issued for the area.
MetService had issued a severe thunderstorm watch and an orange heavy rain warning for Northland on Tuesday, with MetService warning the area could get 90mm of rain and downpours of 40mm per hour.
A tangihanga for Karnin was held at Paa Te Oro Marae in Te Karae at 10am, where the teenager was surrounded by family and friends.
In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, Karnin's family said it was with "deep sadness" their "beautiful boy" died during a school trip at Abbey Caves.
"He is now laying in state at his home surrounded by all his whānau and friends. Whānau are all welcome, nau mai haere Mai," the family said on Facebook.
"We would also like to extend a welcome to anyone else from the community who also loved our baby boy and went to pay their respects."
The school has refused to answer any questions since Karnin's death, with only the board and the principal releasing statements earlier this week.
The Whangārei Boys' High School Board of Trustees acknowledged Karnin's death.
Presiding member Andrew Carvell said in a statement it was with "immense sadness" he acknowledge Karnin's death.
"Karnin was a treasured and deeply loved son, a brother, a friend to so many, and an inspiration to fellow year 11 students at Whangārei Boys' High School," he said.
"As Trustees and parents, we share the hurt this event has caused. We will continue to support whānau, staff, students and our WBHS community to help with the healing process."
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith told Newshub in a statement on Wednesday their "thoughts and aroha" are with the whānau and the students, even more so now a body had been recovered.
"It is really important for me to let you know how devastated we are that one of our whānau have lost a much loved, and treasured, son and brother," she said.
"The impact of this tragedy is being felt widely amongst our school staff, students and community.
"I realise that people have lots of questions but I simply am not in a position to provide answers at this early stage out of respect for the whānau."
While many in the school community have questioned why the trip went ahead despite weather warnings, the first person to raise the alarm has described the teacher with the group as a hero.
"I was the person who phoned 111 yesterday in this tragedy. I'm still pretty cut up about it - it's pretty tragic losing a young man like that.
"He had a lot left to give. I'm really sorry we couldn't help or do more," said witness Caleb Salisbury.
Salisbury was paving concrete next door when the heavens opened and the rain rushed in. He said the teacher in there with the students was a "hero" who put his life on the line.
"That man was pinned against the rocks pulling the boys out from beneath the ledge," Salisbury said. "That man was devastated. He collapsed when he realised there was one missing.
"He was absolutely mortified. That teacher's a hero. He saved a whole bunch of lives.
"There would be a whole bunch more dead kids in there. He did his absolute best. He was underwater as long as he could handle it."
WorkSafe has opened an investigation into the incident.
A Givealittle page has been set up to help support the boy's whānau and has so far raised more than $97,000.
