Family and friends to farewell 'gentle and caring son'

Family and friends will farewell 11-year-old Connor Phillips on Friday. Photo / Facebook

Family and friends mourning the loss of 11-year-old Connor Phillips, who died in a hunting accident, will gather for his funeral on Friday.

Reporoa boy Connor Brian Phillips was shot dead in the Kaingaroa Forest near Taupo on Sunday afternoon, the last day of the school holidays.

An adult member of a hunting party was unloading a firearm at the end of a hunt when Connor was shot, police said.

The funeral will be held in St Stephen's Church, in the tight-knit Reporoa community on Friday, followed by a private burial.

A funeral notice said Connor was a "much loved, gentle and caring son" who was tragically taken from his loving family on Sunday.

He was the eldest of four brothers.

"You are such a good boy, we will miss you son," the notice reads.

Another funeral notice from extended family members states he was a precious grandson and a loved nephew, mate and cousin.

"Opa and Oma will miss your big hugs, your beautiful face, and your great hunting stories Connor. Safely home in the arms of Jesus," it reads.

Reporoa Primary School has shared the details of the service on Facebook but a spokesperson refused to say whether the school would attend the funeral on Friday.

Connor has been remembered by his community as an admired youngster who had "a lot of heart".

A Givealittle page set up for his family by members of the Reporoa community has already reached $5500, with more than 60 donors sharing messages of love and support.

The page reads: "A beautiful family in our community has lost their eldest son, Connor. Their hearts are breaking and it's just simply devastating and tragic.

"Please help to ease any stress for Connor's family at this awful time, please give generously to bring their boy home and to lay him to rest. An incredible family who needs our support x Love from the Reporoa community and your family and friends."

Reporoa Rugby junior delegate Kelvin Thomas said the rural community was trying to support the Phillips family as much as possible, but nothing they could say would make the tragedy better.

"There's not really anything you can say. Just that we're thinking of them. We don't know how they feel, we can't say that because we just don't," he said.

Connor's rugby coach, Carlos Latoa, said he would be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

"I'd known this young boy Connor as a little blonde boy with a lot of heart. Every time he came and played footy for our team, he gave 110 per cent no matter what, rain, hail or snow he was out there.

"He's going to be sadly missed. In the community, his mates, everyone."

Reporoa Primary's board of trustees said in a statement on Monday that Connor was a valued student who would be dearly missed.

"This young man was admired and respected by his peers. He was a great school leader and an amazing sportsman."

Police said they would not disclose the outcome of the post-mortem examination or make further comment until the end of their investigation.