Crash victim remembered with a ceremony at sea

Paul Kapica loved the sea and had just completed an eco tourism course. Photo / Facebook

A 24-year-old Northland man killed in a beach crash will have his ashes scattered at sea.

Police have named the driver who died after a four-wheel-drive vehicle rolled on Papamoa Beach, in Bay of Plenty on New Year's Day about 8pm. He was Paul Ruben Kasper Kapica, of Kerikeri.

Four other people were uninjured in the single-vehicle crash and were helping police.

Police said Mr Kapica had to be cut from the wreckage by firefighters and they believed alcohol and failure to wear a seatbelt were factors in the tragedy. The matter has been referred to the coroner.

Friends and family are planning a memorial celebration in Kerikeri on a day yet to be confirmed this week which would include scattering his ashes somewhere off the Northland coast.

On a Facebook page R.I.P Paul Ruben Kasper Kapica it said there would be an opportunity to meet and share stories about Mr Kapica.

The man behind the page, Mark Mackie, also of Kerikeri, was a friend of Mr Kapica and had studied eco tourism with him last year.

"He had a beautiful heart. He was always first on the scene if anyone needed help. He was one of the guys who wanted to help out," Mr Mackie said.

"He touched the lives of so many people."

Mr Kapica was born in Germany, lived in England and had moved to Wellington with his family before heading to Northland.

He loved the sea and his water pursuits included sailing and kayaking.

"If he could've changed his name it would have been to Tangaroa [Maori god of the sea]," Mr Mackie said.

"He wanted to work with the ocean and teach people what the sea is all about."

His family were travelling north for the memorial but they were also planning another one in Wellington.

It was not the first time Mr Mackie had lost a friend in a crash involving alcohol and he wanted to push the message: "Don't drink and drive."

"My heart goes out to his family, we have lost a beautiful man. Drink driving is not good. no matter how you look at it, everyone gets hurt.

"People need to realise vehicles are dangerous things and, as much as we talk, people continue to do it. If you are drinking you should know not to drive. It's common sense," Mr Mackie said.

Tributes on Facebook included one from Omar Hamed. "Hello Omar here, good friend of Paul's, we had a nice sail on the 28th of December with Paul, it was a great day and he was his usual excellent self. I just want to say to his family and friends around Aotearoa and the world, sorry for your loss."

Another from Jo Bailey read: "He was so brimming with life, fun and possibility. I feel lucky to have crossed paths with you Paul - I'll think of you when I look out to sea."