Habitat for Humanity has paid tribute to a US tourist who helped with the Christchurch rebuild before he died while snorkelling off the Kaikoura coast at the wekend.
Vincent He, 32, who worked in the IT industry, was visiting New Zealand from Boston, Massachusetts.
During his visit he spent two weeks volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and helping with small repairs to 50 houses in Chrischurch's green zone.
Habitat for Humanity NZ marketing manager David Lawson said Mr He had decided to go snorkelling in Kaikoura on Saturday, "just for a break".
He had left friends near Omihi camping ground, 15 minutes south of Kaikoura, to search for paua on a rocky shelf.