Tangi held for girl killed by falling tree branch

A tangi has begun at a marae near Hastings for a six-year-old girl who was killed by a falling branch while playing in a tree in suburban Flaxmere on Tuesday.

Iriaka Te Rangi Maria Kawana was pinned beneath a 10cm thick outer branch of a low-slung 30cm-thick arm of the tree which snapped near where it joined the trunk.

The tree was a 35-year-old bluegum.

A tangi has begun at Korongata Marae, Bridge Pa, where Iriaka's funeral service will be held on Saturday morning.

Iriaka was one of several children playing on the tree.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY