KEY POINTS:
As Halatau "Tau" Naitoko's body was taken to his Mangere East home last night, his family said "nothing will fill the hole" his death had left in their lives.
About 200 relatives and friends were gathered as the coffin of the 17-year-old arrived.
Police Minister Judith Collins visited the family on Saturday, having earlier offered them any help the Government could give. It was up to the family to decide what form that help should take.
Responding last night, spokesman Sofeso Sime said the offer was "much appreciated" but added that "nothing will help the pain the family is going through".
Children played in the street as 200 people clad in black shirts and traditional Tongan tao'vala (flax skirts) paid their respects while hymns resonated in the background.
Mr Sime said the family were feeling a mixture of sadness and anger but the focus now was on the slain teenager and preparing for his burial on Friday.
He said Tau had been "a responsible, determined young man who could have done something silly with his life, but instead had started a family and had a good job".
Eldest sister Sekola said Tau was a "cheeky, funny brother ... That is what I will miss the most."
She said her anger over his death had subsided. "I am mad at the fact I won't see him again in this lifetime. But I know he is in a higher place. Knowing that takes all my worries away."
But Sekola said her mother was struggling to grasp a life without Tau. "Mum came out on Sunday morning and said, 'Tau, come take the washing'. When she realised her mistake, she just broke down."
The body arrived at the family home at 7pm in a white coffin with gold crosses and was placed in the back garage on finely woven flax mats and surrounded by flowers.
