A 72-year-old man who died after a family fishing boat capsized off the Mahia Peninsula was farewelled yesterday.
Rare Toheriri Pohe, known as "Tonto", died in the tragedy on Thursday, despite his nephew pulling him from the water and performing CPR for 20 minutes.
His great-niece Cedar Wairau, a 13-year-old Napier schoolgirl, has been hailed a heroine after she swam 10m, walked along a reef and then ran along rocks for 2km to the nearest house to raise the alarm.
Mr Pohe, Cedar and her dad, George, had been collecting shellfish for a reception at a Mahia marae for newlyweds George and Nancy Ormond.
The groom's father, George Ormond snr told the Herald on Sunday the family were taken with the courageous actions of the young girl. "We're calling her our little heroine," he said.