Lifelong friends laid to rest together

Vernon Samuels and Ryan Wikaira were born hours apart at the same hospital, on March 4, 1991. On Friday last week they died together. And on Tuesday the close friends and promising rugby players were laid to rest in the same cemetery after their grieving Whangaroa families and community came together for a tangi.

Community leaders are hoping that the crash, on State Highway 10 south of Kaeo, that took their lives will remind other young drivers that they are not as indestructible as they feel, so other families do not have to endure the same grief.

Vernon (Vern Jr), of Matauri Bay, and Ryan (Kaeo) were farewelled at Matauri Bay's Te Tapui Marae, followed by burial at Te Tou o Taki urupa.

Matauri Bay resident and former MP Dover Samuels, who was related to both young men, said the community was in shock.

He estimated more than 400 people crowded the small marae to pay their final respects. Some had come from as far away as Tainui to show their support.

"It has been a shock to our community to lose these young, vibrant men at the beginning of their lives. Nobody can really console the parents and wider whanau, but there has been a tremendous outpouring of support," he said.

Mr Samuels said they were "good boys with bright futures ahead of them." Their families' hearts also went out to the other driver injured in the crash.

The key theme to emerge from the whaikorero of the past few days was the danger of the youthful sense of invincibility combined with driving and alcohol. Kaumatua and kuia had already been talking to young drivers in the area after signs of wheelies and donuts started appearing on the dangerously steep road winding down to the bay.

Police were not yet commenting on the cause of the crash, including whether alcohol was involved, but Mr Samuels said "You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes" to know a few drinks followed rugby training or a victory.

"That's the tradition and it shouldn't be knocked, but that should not give rise to driving when you've had enough. Celebrate and have a good time, but make sure you depart with a safe driver," he said.

Such tragedies did not discriminate by age, he added, but youth were full of energy and "they think they are invincible, indestructible, and take chances they really shouldn't."

The two friends died when their car spun out of control heading south on State Highway 10 about 12.15am on Friday, clipping the back of a truck heading north before colliding with a second north-bound vehicle following about 200 metres behind, a ute driven by the truck driver's wife.

A back-seat passenger in the car, who had also been at the Kaeo Rugby Club training night, suffered only moderate injuries and managed to climb out of the wreckage before emergency services arrived.

The driver of the ute, from Maramarua, in North Waikato, was left with broken ribs. She and her husband had been heading to Taipa Speedway for the Queen's Birthday weekend races.

The police Serious Crash Unit returned to the scene on Saturday to carry out further measurements.

Kaeo Rugby Club president Allan Martin said the loss had been a huge shock to the club and the wider community.