An up-and-coming Masterton wool handler will be farewelled in a service this weekend after dying unexpectedly.
Shaylyn Te Huia, 16, died on Monday in Te Kuiti.
She was the daughter of Stacey Te Huia, Te Kuiti, who is a dual world shearing record holder.
Speaking from Te Kuiti, maternal grandmother Bubbles Conaghan said Shaylyn was an "up-and-coming" wool handler and it was a "really tragic, tragic loss".
"It was absolutely unexpected, I couldn't believe it when they told me," she said.
"She was a very loving person, do anything for you."
Shaylyn competed in Masterton's Golden Shears in 2014, winning the novice wool-handling final. Last year, she competed in the junior event, coming seventh in the heats and making the semifinals.
She grew up mainly in Masterton and was a past student of Makoura College.
Mrs Conaghan said she had been working in Te Kuiti with shearing contractor Neil Fagan, and was planning to compete in the New Zealand Championships in April. The family are bringing her home to Masterton today. Her service will be at Te Rangimarie Marae on Cole St, Masterton, on Saturday at 11am.
A traveller told the Herald 'the queues are huge'.