Slow down, say 6 year old's family

Junior Ianuali. Photo / Supplied

The heartbroken family of a 6-year-old boy hit by a car and killed want speed around schools lowered even further.

Junior Ianuali was hit as he crossed the road near Cannons Creek School in Porirua, not far from his grandparents' house.

His aunty Sei Ianuali described her nephew as a fun-loving boy who loved his family and friends.

She said the family did not want anyone else to go through the pain they had experienced.

"He was such a great kid who was always smiling and never answered back," Ianuali said. "He was a great big brother and he was always laughing and singing. His favourite group was One Direction." Police have ruled out speed as a factor in the accident but Sei Ianuali said cars always drove too fast down Champion St where Junior was killed.

"Our family want to do something about the speed limit around schools, we don't want this to happen to another family, to anyone else. In general cars drive too quickly past there."

Ianuali said her older sister, Junior's mother Meripa, was struggling with her son's death but was trying to be strong for his younger siblings.

"It is hard, she is putting on a brave face for her other children," Ianuali said.

At his funeral on Thursday Junior's schoolmates sang a moving rendition of his favourite One Direction song What Makes You Beautiful before waving and clapping as his body was carried away in a hearse.

Police said no charges had been laid.

"We won't know if there will be until we have all the facts together and have finished all the witness statements," a spokesman said.