Kaumatua ban fishing as whanau mourn boy

Conan Waihi (R) at 10 years old with his father Damian and brother Elijah. Photo / Supplied

Conan Waihi died trying to rescue his prized and expensive basketball after it fell into the Wairoa River.

The 13-year-old Wairoa College student was with a group of friends at a riverside picnic spot when the ball, worth hundreds of dollars, went astray just after 5pm on Tuesday.

The youngster pursued the ball into the river but found himself in difficulty about 15m out from the bank. A friend jumped in to try to save him, grabbing his arm, but Conan slipped from his grasp.

Police divers found the youngster's body at about 1.30pm yesterday.

Earlier in the day, kaumatua put a "rahui", or ban, on a 2km stretch of the river.

Wairoa District Council Maori liaison officer Ropata Ainsley said he was relying on word of mouth to notify local fishermen, whitebaiters and water skiers who usually used the water.

The rahui would be in place for seven days, he said.

Mr Ainsley had been told the body would be taken to the whanau's marae in Hastings today and said the tangi would probably be held tomorrow.

He had heard Conan was a good basketballer and that the ball cost $200.

"You see why he went for the ball. It was something that meant something to him."

Meanwhile, the Waihi family are using their Mormon faith to help them to cope with the death.

Grandfather Kono Waihi said he was deeply saddened by the loss and did not know why his grandson had gone after the ball.

"I have been pondering that ... when the river is flooded ... when he could have just got another one," he said.

"But I suppose when your number is up you have got to go, whether you're young or old. There's always one bloke [God] to sing out to."

Mr Waihi described Conan as "the sporty one", who was always "very mobile". He was a talented basketballer for his age, he said.

The 80-year-old said Conan's only sibling - 12-year-old brother Elijah - would be very upset by the loss.

Wairoa College principal Brian Simpson said there was "an air of subdued sadness" around the school.

Students and staff had been offered counselling and support and a special assembly in Conan's honour would probably be held next week.

"Most people came to school [yesterday] knowing the news and what we've done is, rather than create an emotional storm, we have gone through the levels of teachers and the form tutors and advertised opportunities for people going into grief - where they could go into some quiet time and be supported."

Mr Simpson said a group of young people had been counselled that morning.

In a small community like Wairoa, a lot of people knew Conan.

He said the Year 9 student was well respected and liked by both peers and teachers.

"I think they'll remember him as a good guy who enjoyed life.

"He was a steady student, he wasn't mischievous, he was just a nice boy who did his work and got on with things and yeah, his mates loved him."

Mr Simpson said the picnic spot where Conan drowned was very popular with locals.

It contained a play area with swings and a large grassed area.

"Kids swim there normally ... There's a bit of fishing off there, canoes and things [go] up and down it," he said. "It's a playground area, it's not a wild riverbank, and it runs right through the centre of town."