Service for boy killed playing hide-and-seek

11-year-old Troy Spiers. Photo / Supplied

Family and friends of schoolboy Troy Spiers have gathered for a memorial service this afternoon at the Hibiscus Coast house where he was killed in a lift-shaft tragedy.

The 11-year-old was at his grandfather's home at Gulf Harbour on Auckland's Whangaparaoa Peninsula on Wednesday when he was crushed while playing hide-and-seek.

A builder at the property said Troy had gone missing during the game and was found about 1pm by his grandfather, Dennis Spiers, in the lift shaft of the three-level home.

He had severe head injuries, and was unresponsive.

The builder frantically performed CPR on him in a bid to revive him, and ambulance staff took over when they arrived, but were unsuccessful.

The Oamaru boy was visiting relatives in Auckland at the time of the tragedy.

A notice in today's Weekend Herald pays tribute to the "much loved and treasured son of Mike and Paula and dearly loved brother of Aleisha".

It describes him as "an awesome, loving, thoughtful son, brother and grandson".

"Your smile could light up a room and melt many hearts. We will miss you more than we can say."

Troy attended Oamaru's Pembroke School, where tributes have been flooding in from shocked school friends and their parents.

The school will host a tribute day tomorrow so Troy's friends can share memories in a book for his family.

A message on the school's Facebook page said: "We hope this will be of some small comfort to Troy's family during the tough time ahead. Keep the sharing going."

Pembroke principal Brent Godfrey said this week that Troy was a really nice boy who loved competition.

"He would put 150 per cent into everything. He was sporty and had a lot of friends. He was a never-give-up type of kid who would give anything a go."

Mr Godfrey said Troy was considerate beyond his years.

Troy's funeral is set to take place in Oamaru.