Family mourn 'curious' wee boy

Jimmy Laulu, who drowned on Christmas Day, was a curious little boy who loved his family.

A Samoan family who moved to New Zealand for a better life just weeks ago are mourning the loss of a son.

Three-year-old Jimmy Atilua Laulu drowned at Ocean Beach in a lagoon while on a family outing on Christmas Day.

Jimmy's uncle Simi Laulu said the family have been "very down and very sad".

"He was so dear to me."

Mr Laulu said they were drawing strength from all of the support received from friends and family.

"They help share our pain and lift us up."

He described his nephew as a very happy, active young boy.

"He [Jimmy] always looked up to adults and wanted to try what they did."

Jimmy wanted to know everything and was always asking questions.

"He talked too much, except when he was watching cartoons," Mr Laulu joked.

He loved his toys and was always running around.

Mr Laulu said Jimmy was grandchild number seven but considered himself to be number one.

"It must have been that blond hair."

Jimmy was the oldest of three boys and was "very protective" of his younger brothers.

"He would always watch out for them and give them a big hug when they got hurt."

Jimmy was especially close with his father.

"When he would wake up after dad put him to bed, Jimmy would get up and get back in bed next to his dad." Jimmy fulfilled one of his dreams just before his death.

"Whenever we would leave Samoa, he would yell out for us to take him because he always wanted to fly on a plane.

"He fulfilled that dream three weeks ago when he flew to New Zealand and now he's gone.

"His father told me that when Jimmy was on the plane he was 'so happy'."

He asked a million questions and was in awe of the view below.

Mr Laulu was not at the beach at the time of the tragedy.

He recalls the "emptiness" he felt when hearing of the news.

He was told they searched for about an hour before Jimmy was pulled from the lagoon.

Mr Laulu said his brother was inconsolable after seeing his lifeless son.

"When he saw it was his son, it was like he ran out of breath - he couldn't talk, he was just so sad.

"It's a good lesson for parents - watch out for your kids."

Director of Ocean Beach Surf Lifesaving Andy Callinicos said the life guards on patrol that day did the best job they could have.

"It's obviously a very tragic event."

He said parents needed to be supervising children at all times if they chose to let them in the lagoon. The club wanted to use the tragedy as a timely reminder for how to keep safe this summer.

"Never swim alone, always have an adult present, swim between the flags and be considerate to other surf users."

Pacific Navigation Services director Tim Hutchins said it was a tragic loss for a family that had moved to New Zealand for a better life.

"With only recently moving to New Zealand and the excitement of being selected through the New Zealand immigration quota scheme, their year has ended in pieces."

Mr Hutchins said Pacific Island people had one of the highest rates of drowning in the country.

"It would be great to see specific in-language swimming programmes rolled out in New Zealand."

He said it was a devastating loss not only for the family but also for the tight-knit church and Samoan community. Bishop William Ah Kiong from the Heretaunga (Samoan) Ward said the family had travelled from Aleisa in Samoa to Hawke's Bay to start a new life.

He confirmed that the funeral for Jimmy would be held today at 1pm.