'It will take years to get over the loss'

Rongoa-Tukawa Ray-Tomes was struck by a vehicle and died.

The mother whose young tot was killed in the carpark of a Northland school had just returned to New Zealand for a holiday with her family.

Grandmother Naomi Fenton said her daughter Tema Kwan had flown in from Sydney to spend time back at the family homestead on the outskirts of Whangarei while husband Luke Tomes travelled to America on business. She brought her two children TeAta Taonga, aged 3, and Rongoa-Tukawa Ray-Tomes, 14 months, with her.

But within a week, her world was turned upside down when on Wednesday, her youngest boy was struck by a vehicle in the Kamo Intermediate School carpark.

Her husband flew back from San Francisco to be at his wife's side.

Fenton said her daughter, who was in the carpark when Rongoa-Tukawa was killed, was devastated by the loss of her son.

The boy's funeral will be held in Northland tomorrow.

"It's going to take years to get over," she said.

Teaching staff at the school were heartbroken and had expressed their sorrow.

But the family's thoughts were also with the woman behind the wheel of the car which struck the child.

"I know the other person is devastated. It was a tragic accident," said Fenton.

She said the family planned to meet the driver after Rongoa-Tukawa's funeral.

"We will meet and embrace each other," Fenton said.

"We don't want her to be haunted by this."

Last night, extended family were gathered at Pehiaweri Marae at Glenbervie where little Rongoa-Tukawa was lying in state.

Mourners were asked to bring a children's book as a koha which would be gifted to the local Glenbervie Primary School as a memorial.

Police are still investigating the tragedy.