KEY POINTS:
The families of three Manawatu children killed in last week's cliff collapse have made the coffins which were used to bury them.
Hundreds of people, including family from South Africa, attended the funeral service in Palmerston North today for eight-year-old Keryn Langley, her 10-year-old brother Callum and their 13-year-old friend Michael Liengme.
Russell Street school principal David Reardon read out some tributes at the service from the Langley children's classmates.
The three children died a week ago when rocks from the hills above plunged into the Pohangina River where they were swimming.
Michael's mother Margaret Liengme said making the coffins helped keep the families busy and was the one thing they could do for their children.
Michael's 10-year-old brother Kevin, who escaped with a minor leg injury, helped make the coffins at Feilding High School earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the 111 call centre is being questioned for sending an ambulance to the tragedy in the wrong direction.
St John central region ambulance manager Grant Pennycook confirmed the ambulance was sent from Feilding at 6.16pm toward Kimbolton, to the north, instead of Ashhurst, to the east, the Manawatu Standard reported.
He said the mistake was quickly corrected and added less than five minutes to the journey.
However, Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen said there was no excuse for the mistake to occur in a world with global positioning systems (GPS).
It was further proof the rural sector was being "hung out to dry" by not getting close to the same protection as its urban counterparts, Mr Pedersen said.
The Totara Reserve camping ground where the children died was to remain closed until at least after today's funeral service.
An appeal has raised $17,000 for the families.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
