There is a "heavy dark cloud" of grief hanging over the family of the teenage boy who died in Abbey Caves whilst on a school trip, according to a hapū representative.
A student, from Whangārei Boys' High School, died during a school caving trip on Tuesday amid wild weather. His body was recovered late on Tuesday evening.
The family told Newshub they're deeply grateful for the help and support from search and rescuers and they wish for their privacy to be respected.
Criticisms have been made into the decision to continue with the trip to Abbey Caves on Tuesday but, as police and WorkSafe start investigations into the incident, the community is banding together to provide support to the lost boy’s whānau.
Ngāti Kahu o Toro-ngare hapū kaikōrero Nicki Wakefield told AM on Thursday the family is going through a very tough time but is receiving a lot of support from the community.
"[A] heavy dark cloud… has come upon them and our hapū are there absolutely in support for the whānau - offering karakia and just offering support for the whānau at this really, really sad time," Wakefield told co-host Laura Tupou.
"The aroha extended is coming from many directions as well as they look to send off their tamaiti.
"Our Kaumātua reached out and were able to offer some condolence with the whānau at the site afterward.
"That's our level of contact with the whānau at this time as hapū and we turn to our community, the school and we turn to the many young people involved and affected by this as well and just offer that aroha."
The death has caused uproar in the community, with the parent of a year 12 student, who attends Whangārei Boys' High School, saying those responsible for organising the caving trip need to be "held to account".
"All of us locals know you do not go near these caves in any rain," the parent said in an email to AM. "Anyone at the school including the principal will need to answer some serious questions."
Following the student's death, security guards were posted outside the school on Wednesday because there are "a lot of upset people".
"In light of these events, we have taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of staff and students," Northern Districts Security told Newshub in a statement.
"We have implemented security measures on-site and are working closely with police to ensure that the school remains a safe and secure place for everyone."
A Givealittle page has been set up to help support the boy's whānau and has so far raised more than $52,000.
Wakefield is calling on everyone to take a breath and make sure love is shown to young New Zealanders who might be affected by this tragedy.
"Understandably, there is also a lot of frustration out there and there are a lot of unresolved questions at this time for all of us," she told AM.
"The message on this day is to take care of each other and especially our young ones who are affected by grief and impacted by this.
"So here in Whangārei, we have the rolling [teacher] strike as well, so many young people out of school today. So just thinking of those young ones and extending aroha to them, taking care of each other, that's kind of our key focus today as the hapū."
