Watch: Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon laid to rest: 'She was an amazing mum'
Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon was laid to rest with a hair-raising haka in her hometown today.
It was the last thing her partner Gary Morton wanted to do for her after tragedy struck their Mt Lyford log cabin home on November ...
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Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon was laid to rest with a hair-raising haka in her hometown today.
It was the last thing her partner Gary Morton wanted to do for her after tragedy struck their Mt Lyford log cabin home on November 14.
NOW PLAYING • Watch: Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon laid to rest: 'She was an amazing mum'
Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon was laid to rest with a hair-raising haka in her hometown today.
It was the last thing her partner Gary Morton wanted to do for her after tragedy struck their Mt Lyford log cabin home on November ...
Earthquake victim Jo-Anne Mackinnon was laid to rest with a hair-raising haka in her hometown today.
It was the last thing her partner Gary Morton wanted to do for her after tragedy struck their Mt Lyford log cabin home on November 14.
The coffin was flown in by helicopter while her close family arrived in another helicopter.
The procession was called onto the graveyard and greeted with a haka at the intimate burial. Waves of heat washed over the mourners as they were overcome with emotion.
Mackinnon's friend Lisa said an emotional farewell to the woman who had been "like a mother" to her.
Morton had hoped a helicopter could fly the mother-of-two's body to Kaikoura to be buried alongside her grandparents in the family plot. But he couldn't find a helicopter pilot who was available.
After the Herald published their story, a Christchurch helicopter owner contacted Morton and offered to fly his partner's body to Kaikoura so she can be buried. They also transported Morton and his family in a separate chopper.
Mackinnon's funeral took place at St Peter's Catholic Church in Christchurch yesterday.
Morton didn't want to share his memories of Mackinnon, but friends wrote online of a woman "full of energy, humour and compassion".
Donna Charles wrote about her "absolutely fabulous friend".
"This was not the way it was meant to be, and I will miss you so much."
Staff were helping guests so a tourist went back to the cabin with him, Morton said. They attempted CPR, but Mackinnon was gone.
It was 14 hours before a helicopter arrived to take Mackinnon's body to Christchurch. Morton stayed by her side the whole time.
The hours before dawn were hard.
"It was terrible. I've never, ever felt so helpless and alone in my life. It was pitch dark, the house was gone, it was still shaking and she was dead in my arms."
A preliminary report from the coroner indicated the cause of death was unknown. Full findings are expected in eight weeks, he said.