Video: Andy Bray speaks about his daughter NatashaKEY POINTS:
The death of six students and a teacher is not only a tragedy for the school and the community, but for New Zealand, says the father of one of the victims.
Andy Bray, whose daughter, Natasha, was swept away by the Mangatepopo River, said all the victims had much to live for.
"These were kids of excellence," Mr Bray said at Elim Christian College yesterday.
"We have lost some amazing difference-makers, some role models, and my daughter was one of them."
Mr Bray, who has been on dialysis for 17 years and is awaiting a kidney transplant, said he had asked Natasha about the rain hammering the Tongariro region.
"She said, 'My good friend Portia (McPhail, who was in the group and also died) said we have got this little saying that says we are going to jump in puddles, Dad.
"She said, 'What I mean by that is even if it is bad, we are going to make the most of it'.
"That is what my daughter and Portia were like.
"And I guess that is what all the parents are trying to do right now. We are going to try and jump in puddles."
Mr Bray said he had incredible memories of his daughter.
"Every memory is a good one - she's so mature that she's already given us many tributes. That's pretty unusual for a 16-year-old, saying, 'Mum and dad, you're awesome, we love you'."
He said all the students were remarkable young people.
"They were selfless, giving their lives to make a difference. They loved God and wanted to be part of making this world better.
"These were kids of extraordinary character who set themselves aside to want to be involved in building up others who were struggling."
He said the deadly flood was "one of those freak moments when a lot of water poured down, one of those once-in-a-million-year kind of things".
School principal Murray Burton said the school community was taking the grieving process "one step at a time, one hour at a time, maybe one minute at a time".
"Words cannot describe the pain families are feeling."
Mr Burton admitted there was anger, but that was something that everyone - including himself - would deal with.
"I will not deny that I am angry at why this has happened to the kids and the families. It's a natural reaction. It's not an anger that is white hot - it's 'Why us? Why this? Isn't it needless?'" he said.
"My strong faith overcomes that anger. It hurts, and it hurts badly and it will hurt for a long time, but my faith will sustain me. There's a bigger perspective to this."
- additional reporting: NZPA
