Phoenix' arrival was marked by a series of striking coincidences. He was originally due to be born on August 29.
"When we saw the date he was due, we thought in some way that we had to go through the loss of Ezra, the funerals ... In the end, it worked out quite differently as Phoenix and Ezra had other plans ... ," said Mrs Tapp, still amazed by the timing.
Mr Tapp, thinking of his beloved Ezra, said Phoenix's birth was "a bit of an intervention from someone else".
Mrs Tapp was admitted to hospital on August 9 for blood tests. Then the Tapps were told the medics could deliver their baby on Tuesday August 11 or Wednesday August 12 - the day Ezra died.
"And I said no ... The others days I can go, that's all right but not on the day Ezra died," she said. "It would have been unfair on Phoenix, unfair on Ezra. It would have been hard for Phoenix growing up knowing he was born on the day his brother died. It would have been ... ," she sighed.
" ... too much," Mr Tapp said.
"He is not a replacement, he is his own little boy."
I watched him coming to the world through the caesarean and he came with a big smile, laughing at me. We are really blessed,
The day Phoenix was born was one of those "crazy" days for Mr Tapp.
He had raced downtown to pick up some things for his wife before she was due to have an ultrasound but had a car accident - nothing major - and only just made it back in time for the test.
Two hours later, at 3.06pm, Phoenix was born.
The timing rang a bell for Mr Tapp. It would have been about the time they lost their first son.
The day Ezra died Mrs Tapp had become worried about 2.45pm that he was missing and notified her husband at 2.55pm. The police were phoned before 3pm and Mr Tapp found Ezra at 3.34pm in the Ohinemuri River.
The Tapps want to thank the Waihi community for its ongoing support.
"We received so many letters of support following Ezra's death last year. That is why we wanted to share our happy story today," Mrs Tapp said.
