Hundreds of people gathered to pay their final respects to Tauranga teenager Wiremu Rawiri.
Huria Marae was yesterday overflowing with friends and family who came to say their goodbyes to Wiremu who died after suffering an asthma attack on Monday.
Wiremu, 17, was studying at Te Aute College in Hawke's Bay and several of his teachers and friends made the trip to Tauranga for his tangi.
Te Aute College commissioner Elizabeth Ellis also came to the tangi and described Wiremu's death as the loss of a terrific young man.
A church service was held at the marae and the huge number of people meant several of the crowd had to stand outside.