Teenager dies after joyride crash

A young Whangarei woman is dead after the unregistered, unwarranted car in which she was a passenger slammed into a tree.

A bunch of flowers marks the spot where 18-year-old Dallany Moana Rameka was severely injured over a week ago. She died in Auckland Hospital on Friday.

Police say Miss Rameka was one of five young people "joy riding" in a Honda Domani when it slammed at speed into the tree outside Northland Polytechnic on Raumanga Valley Rd about 3.30pm on Saturday, January 14.

Apart from a large scar where its bark has been ripped away, the tree now bears messages of love carved by Miss Rameka's family and friends.

Police say she was a back seat passenger and it is understood that she was not wearing a seatbelt.

Another person in the car suffered a suspected broken leg or pelvis in the crash. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Police say it is likely the car would not have passed its warrant of fitness test and the car's driver only had a learner's licence.

A Raumanga resident who lives near the crash site said she heard a loud "bang" when the car hit the tree.

It was a "traumatic" incident for the community as a large number of people had flocked to the spot while police and ambulance officers were still working.

She described Miss Rameka as "a very gentle person" whose loss had devastated her family.

They had decorated the tree on Saturday in a "very emotional" ceremony with prayers and song.

Miss Rameka was to be buried at a Hokianga marae today.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)