The mother of a New Zealand detainee who died inside a Sydney detention centre is struggling to come to terms with his death.
Hera Peihopa has told Maori TV it's hard to believe she will soon be burying her 42-year-old son Rob, who was only recently leading a vigorous haka as his friend left the Villawood detention centre.
"I'm still coming to terms with the fact my son is deceased, until I see him it really hasn't completely sunk in," said Mr Peihopa's mother.
Mr Peihopa collapsed and died at the detention centre on Monday night.
While Australian authorities did not identify him, they confirmed a New Zealand national died from a suspected heart attack.