Featherston woman dies in motorcycle crash

MOURNED: Natalia Austin, 18, of Featherston.

Featherston's Natalia Austin, 18, was a passenger on a motorbike driven by Wellington photographer Dee McMahon when they crashed into the concrete median barrier near Wellington's Terrace Tunnel.

Despite efforts of paramedics , both died at the scene. The motorcycle, travelling north out of the city, was the only vehicle involved in the crash, according to police.

Tributes to Natalia have been made on her Facebook page by friends and former schoolmates from Kuranui College, where she finished last year.

She was working as a delicatessen assistant at Pain & Kershaw in Martinborough.

Pain & Kershaw owner Conor Kershaw said it had been a "terrible day" for them yesterday, "mainly among the young and junior teams".

"She was a girl taken far before her time."

He said she had been working at the supermarket for about eight months. "It was her first full-time job outside of school." Mr Kershaw said she had been "inspiring" to the younger team members. "She was the girl who had finished school, a local Wairarapa girl, had it all sorted out."

Friend Nikita Jackson posted she was lost for words. "It just isn't fair. I will always have those memories of us and will never lose them."

Amy Smith said Natalia "lit up the salon" when she visited.