A sombre crowd of about two hundred gathered at Oamaru's skatepark this afternoon to share tears, hugs and memories of local teen Zara Blackie, who was struck and killed on nearby State Highway one this week.
Zara's parents and siblings were joined at the park by a group largely made up of pupils from her school Saint Kevins College.
During the gathering the area near where the fourteen year-old was struck was blessed by kaumatua David Higgins, from Moeraki.
Boys from Saint Kevins College performed an emotional haka, followed by a haka from boys from Waitaki Boys High School.
Saint Kevins principal Paul Olsen spoke to the crowd telling them of an energetic and vibrant young lady.
He said to see her potential cut short is a tragedy.
Zara's mother Wendy Blackie said her daughter would have been proud of the turnout
