Doves released for canyoning victims

Teacher Tony McClean and students Anthony Mulder, Floyd Fernandes, Natasha Bray, Portia McPhail, Tara Gregory and Huan Hsu. Photos / Supplied

Tara Gregory's funeral

Floyd Fernandes' funeral

Portia McPhail, Tom Hsu and Natasha Bray's funerals

Anthony Mulder and Tony McClean's funerals

Canyoning tragedy

The seven victims

Seven doves - one for each victim of last month's canyoning tragedy - have been released following a memorial service held in their honour today.

It is thought around 3000 people attended the service, which packed out the Telstra Events Centre in Manukau City today.

It was treated as a celebration of the lives of the seven victims with lots of laughter in the hall.

Canvas images of the six students and a teacher were presented on easels on the stage with a slideshow behind showing photos and videos of them.

Students sang songs and read tributes and prayers.

The release of the doves was then delayed until bad weather cleared.

The seven, from Elim Christian College in east Auckland, died on a central North Island canyoning trip when a flash flood hit the Mangatepopo River.

As the college prepared for the service today consideration was being given to a rock climbing wall with seven tracks and seven names as a permanent memorial in the school gymnasium.

"We will name the seven tracks after the students and the teacher. That will be a permanent thing the kids can use and pay tribute for a long, long time to come," said Danie Vermuelen, the chairman of the board of the Howick school.

Each of the seven tracks would be named after those who died and would carry a plaque, and possibly a photograph.

"That is the thinking. Obviously we are consulting with the parents and making sure they are happy with it but so far it sounds like a very good idea - well accepted," he said.

The school had set up the Mangatepopo Memorial Fund to offer financial support to the families of the victims, establish a school memorial and a leadership scholarship, and to advance leadership and character development, outdoor and sporting pursuits and education.

Mr Vermuelen said the fund had reached $46,000 after many organisations and individuals told the school they wanted to contribute financially.

Today's service was to celebrate the lives of the dead and had largely been organised by the students, Mr Vermuelen said.

He said it would be another day of heavy emotion after the seven funerals.

"The way we are handling it is to just try to get back to normality as much as possible."

Mr Vermuelen said counselling was available to any student and staff member who wanted it.

"Obviously (today) is an opportunity to express their feelings and their tributes and celebrations.

"It is all about expressing those emotions, dealing with them and going forward," he said.

The students and teacher died when they were caught in a flash flood in the Mangatepopo River during an outdoor course at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the Tongariro National Park.

Teacher Tony McClean and students Anthony Mulder, Floyd Fernandes, Natasha Bray, Portia McPhail, Tara Gregory and Huan Hsu died on April 15.

- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA