We've got to fix the rift: Featherston 'shocked and divided' after teen deaths

Hoani Korewha (left) and Pacer Willacy-Scott (right), died in Masterton after a short police pursuit. Photo / Facebook

A leading New Zealand musician says Featherston is split after a horrific car crash that killed two teenagers.

Trinity Roots frontman and local resident Warren Maxwell said the "shocked and divided" town needed to urgently address the rift before more young people lost their lives in similar tragic circumstances.

A 14-year-old boy is facing a raft of driving charges after the early Sunday morning crash in Masterton in which he and another boy were injured and two died.

Police have been sent to Featherston to help ease tensions after angry teens threw rocks at the home of a girl they blamed for the crash.

Mr Maxwell said he had given crash victims Hoani Korewha and Pacer Willacy-Scott gardening work at his home last month.

He said his experience of teaching songwriting at Rimutaka Prison had shown him troubled youth needed strong mentors and plenty of things to do.

"It's a complex situation, with only victims and no winners, but we've got to do something," Mr Maxwell said.

The singer-songwriter called for residents to support youth workers and others in engaging the town's teens to overcome an "us and them" split and avoid a repeat of Sunday's tragedy.

Acting Wairarapa area commander Senior Sergeant Mike Sutton told Fairfax extra police were going to Featherston to help "extremely vulnerable and emotional young people who are struggling to come to terms with what has happened".