The saddest of goodbyes in Bluff

It was a whole town in mourning.

About 3000 people packed out the Bluff Events Centre yesterday to say a final farewell to five of the six people who perished in one of New Zealand's worst maritime disasters in memory.

Tearful tributes were paid to Leslie Christian (Peter) Topi, 78, his daughter, Tania Topi, 41, her son, Sailor Trow-Topi, 9, and Shain Topi-Tairi, 9, and Clinton Woods, 34.

Members of the Topi family were cremated following the service, and Mr Woods was buried at Green Point Cemetery near Bluff. The sixth victim, Ian "Shorty" Hayward, was buried aftera separate service on Wednesday.

Relatives and friends carried the coffins of their loved ones into the events centre one by one, as pupils from Southland Boys' High School performed a rousing haka.

Those present were told that Shain Topi-Tairi was "a unique special boy".

"Shain had a good heart, even though he sometimes found it hard to express how he felt.

"He was such a character and people would remember him after only one meeting. He really did have a huge impact on everyone he met," said funeral celebrant Gwen Neave. Shain's cousin Sailor was remembered by those in attendance as a well-travelled boy, with an infectious laugh and charisma which made him popular with all his classmates.

Sailor's mother Tania - or Tans as she was known by friends - had a "big heart and a big smile", Mrs Neave said.

Her 16-year-old son, Dylan, survived the accident. There were special words as well for Clinton Woods - "a man with a big heart who was a good father to his daughter Shatrece and stepdaughter Tess."

Peter Topi, Tania's father, and Sailor and Shain's grandfather, was also remembered as a much-loved father, and important member of the Bluff community.