Lucas Ward 'a fearless young man' - uncle

Lucas Ward. Photo / Supplied

Lucas Ward was laid to rest this morning at the marae of his ancestors in Tikapa near Ruatoria as hundreds gathered to honour his life.

Family, friends and police travelled to a tangi at Hinekopeka marae, north of Ruatoria, to farewell the boy who, in the words of Gisborne police commander Sam Aberahama, "became the nation's child".

The four-year-old was also remembered in Gisborne as hundreds more, including many who spent days searching for the preschooler, attended a service at St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church later this afternoon.

Lucas was found in the Waimata River last Thursday, 10 days after he went missing from his grandparents' Graham Road home.

He was lowered into his fern-lined grave dressed as Spiderman and wearing Buzz Lightyear boots as children gathered around, holding bright flowers.

At the memorial service in Gisborne his older brother Alex lit candles in his memory.

His father Damon Ward spoke in Tikapa and his mother Jessica Ward spoke in Gisborne, both remembering their bright, bubbly little boy.

"All children are precious and deserve the best we can give them. Lucas's forgiveness, kind heart, his childlike faith and his purity make me understand something... that if a child can bring a community together, touch the heart of others and cause such an outpouring of grief and support then his life has not been in vain," Jessica Ward said.

Damon Ward spoke of the loss he felt when his gregarious son went missing.

Lucas' great uncle Brian Hunt said Lucas was a "little man who could not be contained".

"At my first meeting with Lucas, he blew into his grandfather's place like a dynamo. A blonde pocket rocket, a boy full of energy, excitement and determination.

"He immediately went into action and showed me how he could climb trees and hang upside down by his legs on skinny branches that I was sure were going to break.

"But that didn't bother Luke, he had faith in himself and faith in the branch ... that epitomises him, he was a fearless young man with faith in himself and everything he was doing."

Lucas was described as a "gorgeous wee child, full of energy and dynamism" at the service in Gisborne.

- NZPA