Teen killed in ute crash friend of Maori King's son

Ra Ngaru Smith was a friend of the Maori King's son Korotangi Paki (pictured). Photo / Brett Phibbs

The teen killed in a Boxing Day ute crash in Raglan was a friend of the Maori King's son, and a man who mentored him says the death is devastating.

Ra Ngaru Smith, 18, from Raglan, was flung on to rocks from the back of a ute after it crashed down a bank on Wainui Rd.

He died in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit on Sunday morning.

Mr Smith was one of the four teenagers, including the Maori King's son Korotangi Paki, who went before Gisborne District Court on theft and burglary charges.

He - along with Te Ahorangi Totorewa and Hamuera Pugh - were discharged without conviction, largely thanks to the efforts of Brad Totorewa, Te Ahorangi's father and a well-respected man in Tainui circles.

Mr Paki was afforded the same treatment but an appeal by the Crown eventually saw him convicted on a drink-driving charge.

Mr Totorewa put together a comprehensive plan for the teens - including mentoring, extensive community service and restorative justice - to help them understand the wrong they had done and change the course of their future.

Judge Philipa Cunningham was so impressed she called for the blueprint to be used more widely in such cases,

Mr Totorewa spoke to NZME. News Service after a day and a half of mourning in Raglan, and said it had been incredibly difficult, as it was for hundreds in the town who came to express their grief.

"He had a lot of potential and was very very skilled in oratory in terms of Maori language. Just an all-rounder," Mr Totorewa said.

"The accolades he received last night were absolutely amazing."

His son Te Ahorangi had studied with Mr Smith and gave a moving tribute to his friend last night.

"They set goals to graduate with their degree in Toi (Maori art) and my son said to him he would carry on the journey for them both," he said.

Police believed Mr Smith was in the back of the ute and said his death would serve as a reminder to people to only travel in vehicles with a proper restraint.

But Mr Totorewa said there was a broader message shared by mourners.

"The key message last night was love your whanau," he said. "You tell your brother, your parents, your sister every day you love them because you don't know when you're going to see them again."

He confirmed that of the three others injured in the ute smash, none were involved in the Gisborne incident in March.

"The boys made a mistake. They rectified it to the best of their ability more than many other New Zealanders could ever do," Mr Totorewa said.

Smith's body was taken on to his family homestead in Rotorua this afternoon.