East Cape man Lance Rangihuna died in a crash last month. Photo / Supplied
The names of those killed in Monday's triple-fatal crash near Te Araroa have been released.
They are 43-year-old woman Tiny Tibble, 14-year-old boy Ashton-Lee Rangihuna, and 10-year-old girl Ana-Roimata Rangihuna.
The trio were killed in a crash yesterday morning
Lance Rangihuna - the woman's partner and children's father - died in a crash a month earlier.
Ashton-Lee had paid tribute to his father as "a real hard worker and the best dad I could ever ask for".
Detective Sergeant Eric Hunter said inquiries into the circumstances of yesterday's crash were ongoing and the matter would be referred to the coroner.
"This was an absolute tragedy and there will be many in the community affected," Hunter said.
"Police, Victim Support and other partner agencies are working to support the whānau, friends and community."
Yesterday's crash has left the tight-knit Te Araroa community of about 200 people where "everybody knows each other" in shock at what is being described as an "unimaginable" tragedy.
Emergency services responded to yesterday's crash, near Te Araroa, about 5.45am.
Te Araroa and Tikitiki firefighters responded, along with police. St John Ambulance from Ruatoria was also called out. St John officers pronounced the victims dead at the scene.
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