Those close to a boy killed in a crash on State Highway 5 at Rangitaiki have paid tribute to the "beautiful" life he lived.
Te Whararere Hunuhunu, 11, of Opotiki and Leo Thomas Chittenden, 29, of Napier died after a head-on crash between two cars near Rangitaiki School and Matea Rd on Monday.
Three other people were injured in the crash.
It was the first of a flurry of seven crashes on the Napier-Taupo Road over Christmas, which left at least eight people injured.
Friends of Te Whararere Hunuhunu shared their tributes on Facebook, describing him as "forever loved, unconditionally".