Vainemoeroa Titaenua loved going to church, gardening and caring for her family. Photo / Supplied
The pedestrian who died after being hit by a car last week has been named.
She was Vainemoeroa Titaenua, 71, from Mangere.
Titaenua was hit about 7am on Idlewild Ave, Mangere, on Thursday. She died in hospital at 8.30pm on Friday.
Titaenua's daughter Susan Tauira said her mum was a lovely woman who was always kind and caring. She was a big help in the family and was taking care of four children from her extended family until she died.
Titaenua went to her Catholic church every day.
"We still can't believe she has gone. It's so sudden.
"She is my role model. She was the best I could ever have. I really miss her."
Titaenua was born in Matumai Village on Atiu Island in the Cook Islands, the 10th of 14 children. She had one daughter, Tauira, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Titaenua moved to New Zealand in 2000 to be closer to medical care for her ailing husband.
If she wasn't at church she would be in the garden or at her aerobics class, Tauira said.
"She loves walking and doing exercise.
"She was good at knitting, embroidering, cooking, and gardening flowers and vegetables."
Tauira thought her mum was on the way to the doctor when she was hit, as she had brought her medication with her.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said it was her "top priority" to stop so many New Zealanders dying on the roads.
"I urge people to take care on the roads this Easter weekend, and to drive responsibly," she said.
"We know that the vast majority of serious crashes result from simple mistakes on the road.
"This highlights the importance of driving fresh and not taking risks, as well as the need for the Government to do its bit to make our roads safer."
A Local Government Road Safety Summit in Wellington on April 9 would enable the Government to hear from councils about how to make the roads safer, Genter said.
"Road deaths are not an inevitability. The Government is looking to boost investment for safety improvements like median barriers, passing lanes and intersection upgrades on local and regional roads."
Twenty years ago, Sweden had the same level of road deaths as New Zealand, Genter said.
"Today, after heavily investing in safety, it is one of the safest countries in the world to drive in.
"If we had the same fatality rate as Sweden, 255 people who died on our roads last year would be alive today."
NZ Police assistant commissioner for road policing Sandra Venables said last Easter poor driver behaviour and speed were the main factors of crashes.
"We know the four main behaviours that contribute to road trauma are going too fast for the conditions, impairment such as fatigue, drugs or alcohol; distractions such as using a cellphone and not wearing seatbelts."
NZ Transport Agency safety and environment director Harry Wilson said with more people on the roads it was important to plan ahead.
"We don't want to see people getting impatient and taking unnecessary risks such as dangerous overtaking manoeuvres or following too closely."
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