KEY POINTS:
The grieving grandmother of dead 14-year-old Rotorua boy Pehi Tahana is relieved her troubled grandson's life is now over.
"I know it sounds harsh, but I'm glad in a way," said Elaine Tahana from Tapuaeharuru Marae on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, as she waited for the arrival
of the hearse carrying the boy's body.
"He lived in hell for 14 years and now he is finally at peace. It's a blessing."
The tangi got under way late yesterday afternoon, and the funeral is planned for tomorrow.
The boy met his death on Monday after a joyride in a stolen car through the Bay of Plenty and Waikato went wrong. Road spikes set up by police on State Highway 28 led to the car's tyres exploding and the vehicle ploughing in to an oncoming van.
The driver of the van and two 15-year-old passengers in Pehi's car survived the crash.
Mrs Tahana said her son, Dwayne, was Pehi's father. The boy's mother, Serena, lived in Whatawhata, near Hamilton. Both parents were feeling the loss of their son, but were coming to terms in accepting it.
She said the family had not known for months where Pehi was. About two weeks ago he was seen at Lake Rotoma converting an uncle's car.
A neighbour chased him and felled him in a tackle. The "step up" in criminal activity to stealing cars began about six months ago. As a result of that, Pehi's father had begun to "put his foot down".
Police were aware of the youth's criminal behaviour, but had been limited in what they could do because of his age.
Mrs Tahana did not blame police or "the system" for the end to her grandson's life, but said many young people today were displaying similar traits.
"They are just slipping through the cracks. They don't put value on life. I'm 67 and I treasure every second now."
Over recent years, it was known Pehi had skipped more school than he had attended.
"Even if he did one term at school that would be too long."
He was a loner due to his social problems and had difficulty in making friends.
Mrs Tahana did not know the two 15-year-olds travelling with her grandson when he died.
At one stage, Pehi tried visiting Kawerau to mix with the local Mongrel Mob and its prospect members, but was isolated from that environment thanks to family connections.
At 12, he was sent away, though Mrs Tahana declined to say where.
"I've brought up seven of my own children and have looked after six grandchildren," she said.
"From an early age, I knew there was something different."
Tantrums began at age 3, which later turned to severe bouts of anger.
Then, aged about 5, Pehi began stealing from his parents and grandparents.
"At 7, he was breaking and entering.
"Every house around here would have been done by him," Mrs Tahana said.
The family had sought help through various agencies and a psychological assessment showed he had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He had also been a glue and petrol sniffer.
Pehi's parents and his whanau had loved and cared for him but had been at a loss about what to do about his misbehaviour.
Child, Youth and Family counsellors, psychologists, police, teachers, and whanau had all tried but failed to address his behavioural problems.