A teenager who had been selected to become a prefect at one of Auckland's top grammar schools has died in a car accident returning to his home in the central North Island.
Mt Albert Grammar Year 12 pupil Liam Cradock was killed on Friday driving back to his home in Taupo.
He had just finished sitting his final NCEA exams at the school where he was a boarder at the school hostel.
In a letter to parents and pupils principal Patrick Drumm paid tribute to the popular and hardworking pupil saying Liam's death would be keenly felt by many at the school.
"The loss of Liam will be deeply felt by all who knew him at School House and in the wider MAGS community.
"Liam was a fine young man who Mount Albert Grammar was proud to have among our student community."
The senior pupil had already attained NCEA Level 2 before taking his external exams, was a talented Premier footballer who played for the school, and had just been inducted as a School House prefect for 2017 at prizegiving.
Drumm said the prayers and thoughts were with Liam's family and friends.
Support would also be on hand for students needing time out from class.