Mourners at a vigil for eight people from Te Awamutu and Hamilton who died in four crashes across the Waikato. Photo: RNZ / Natalie Akoorie
A crash that claimed the lives of five people north of Te Awamutu was the catalyst for a candlelight vigil in the Waikato town.
More than 120 people turned out on Tuesday night for the vigil in Selwyn Park, which was also in memory of three other Te Awamutu residents who died in crashes this month.
Whānau, friends and community members gathered in the dark at 6pm, bringing their rugs, chairs and candles.
They were at the park to mourn the loss of eight lives in four car crashes across the Waikato since 4 May.
On a table surrounded by flowers and candles sat framed photographs of Piata Otufangavalu, Suliasi Lefai, Cheyene Love-Mitchell and Paul and Lois Grimmer.
All five died in a horrific head-on collision on State Highway 3/Ōhaupō Rd, north of Te Awamutu last Tuesday.
Vigil organiser Aimee Coleman White said local residents Waipa District Councillor Jim Parlane, Leon Kennerley and Donna McCauley - who died in three other crashes around Te Awamutu and the Waikato in the past four weeks - were also remembered.
"Losing eight people in a community in a matter of a month is pretty heart-wrenching. And it wasn't even just about the fact that we lost those eight people.
"It was [also] actually around the service people who go out to these accidents. They would probably have attended all four of those accidents."
The candlelight vigil in Te Awamutu for the deaths of eight people in four road crashes across the Waikato since May 4, including five people in one crash near the town last Tuesday Photo: RNZ / Natalie Akoorie
In welcoming the crowd, Coleman White asked those gathered to reflect on the eight dead.
"They were our friends, our family, our colleagues, our neighbours. Their presence was a gift and their impact immeasurable and their absence will leave a void that can never be filled."
She also paid tribute to emergency services.
"We also must take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women of the fire brigade, the ambulance service and the police who attended these scenes with unwavering dedication and courage."
Community chaplain Shane Wildermoth was among several volunteers who stood among the group to offer support.
"We're just here if people need a hand, need help, need talking to because I think community is the most important thing isn't it, and we've lost that in New Zealand.
"So it's great being out here supporting some of the family that's here because it's unprecedented what's happened in Te Awamutu, our little town."
Mr Wildermoth, who is part of Te Awamutu Bible Chapel, said many of those gathered knew one or more of the deceased and he personally knew one of the women who died.
He said it was often in the aftermath of a death, when other people had returned to their lives, that those closest to the dead would struggle.
One woman in the crowd said she wanted to pay her respects to the dead and to first responders despite not knowing any of them.
She said it was a tragedy, especially the deaths of young people.
The woman said she had been deeply moved by a karakia and the waiata, Whakaaria Mai, which the entire vigil sang together.