KEY POINTS:
Slain teenager Liberty Templeman's old school chaplain today asked her family for forgiveness for the "terrible thing" that happened to the 15-year-old teenager.
Addressing a packed funeral service in the Far North town of Kerikeri, Kerikeri High School chaplain Stuart Angus asked Liberty's parents Andrew and Rebecca Templeman for forgiveness on behalf of the community.
"I stepped out in our orchard this morning and took a branch off an olive tree, and I would like to extend this to you and your family, Andy, as an ancient symbol of peace.
"We are sorry for what happened to Liberty, happened in our community, and in your time we humbly ask that you forgive us."
At the end of the service 15 helium-filled balloons floated into the sky over Kerikeri.
Each of the balloons represented a year in the short life of Liberty, known to her friends as Libby.
Despite the sadness, today's funeral service was a colourful occasion after Libby's parents asked mourners not to wear black.
"Come with colour and come with a smile to a celebration of Libby's life," they said.
Family, friends and schoolmates willingly answered the call.
Ninety minutes before the service began, the first of the mourners arrived at The Centre in Kerikeri for the service, dressed in bright colours including Libby's favourite colour orange.
Several family members from England were among the congregation that filled The Centre to overflowing.
They included clergyman Simon Coleman, who joined Anglican minister Sue Reid and Mr Angus in conducting the service.
The Templemans lived in Brightlingsea, Essex, until they moved to Kerikeri for "a better life" two years ago.
The family shifted to Auckland a couple of weeks ago and Libby met her violent death last weekend when she returned Kerikeri to visit friends.
A 14-year-old boy from Libby's former Kerikeri High School was yesterday charged with murdering and indecently assaulting her, and remanded in custody.
As her death was mourned with colour and tributes by friends and fellow drama students in the five days since her body was found last Sunday, so too was her life celebrated with colour and tributes at her funeral.
Andrew and Rebecca Templeman had asked her friends, her schoolmates and fellow cast members from the Kerikeri Players production of Sinbad the Sailor, to remember the bright and bubbly teenager in a colourful way.
The service included a Powerpoint display of her life, music she enjoyed and tributes from family and friends.
Funeral director Anthony Kiely said The Centre in Kerikeri had been decorated with a fantastic array of well-produced artwork and tributes to Libby designed by her school friends in Kerikeri.
"It shows what a huge impression this young girl has had and is having on her friends," he said.
Libby's casket was burnt orange and was carried by six pallbearers chosen from close family friends.
The service sheet was also in burnt orange colour to match her casket and contained excerpts from farewell messages given to her earlier this year when her family moved from Kerikeri to Auckland.
On top of the casket was a bunch of wild flowers and bright orange gerberas.
The service was followed by a private family service at the Kerikeri Crematorium, her casket in a 1973 Cadillac Superior.
- NZPA
