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The father of the two children drowned during an Anzac Day fishing trip is vowing to burn, then bury, the boat in which the youngsters died.
Lindsay Rowles of Devonport last night told the Herald he wanted to destroy the vessel as soon as police released it back to the family.
"I want to burn it and bury it. That's understandable, isn't it?"
Erina Rowles, 8, and Travis, 5, drowned early on Wednesday when the 7.3m aluminium boat sank in calm waters off Tarahiki (Shag) Island, east of Waiheke.
The children are understood to have been trapped in the cabin as the boat began taking on water about 2am.
Four adults - including Mr Rowles and his wife, Tania - managed to scramble to safety on rocks off Tarahiki Island.
The survivors had to wait almost five hours before being rescued.
Mr Rowles last night extended his thanks to boaties who threw warm clothing - including jackets and jerseys - to the group as they waited to be rescued from the rocks.
The family would like to meet and thank personally their helpers and return their clothing.
Erina and Travis were buried at the weekend and Mr Rowles expressed his thanks to everyone who showed up to pay their respects.
He said the funeral was "excellent", with the children's classmates performing kapa haka. The family would now spend time "working it all out".
Police will this week finish taking formal statements from the family.
Investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Scott said yesterday the inquiry into the sinking was put on hold over the weekend to give the Rowles family a chance to farewell the children in peace.
Police were "in no rush" to wrap up the investigation, and would give the family time to get over their ordeal.
"They have had a horrific loss, we are mindful of that. We will let them grieve."
Mr Scott would not say whether the family were wearing lifejackets at the time of the accident or whether alcohol was a factor. "It's difficult for us. I guess people are interested in those issues but it all comes down to completing our investigation."
It was too early to say if charges would be laid after the inquiry.
About six investigators are involved in the case, which is expected to be finished by the end of the week.
And Mr Scott confirmed police had established the identity of an elderly woman whose body was found near the scene of Wednesday's sinking.
Preliminary post-mortem examination findings were that the Thames woman - identified through dental records - had drowned after going into the water, at Thames, about a week earlier. Tides had carried her body into the Waiheke Island area.
Mr Scott said her death was not considered suspicious and she was likely to be named today.
