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The family of the little boy who drowned, despite desperate attempts by his mother to save him, say he was "a very active little kid".
Jago Hohua Te Rangi Kara, 5, was hit by a wave on Napier's Marine Parade on Tuesday - a beach locals say is
notoriously dangerous with sudden dips underfoot and large waves.
The boy's mother, Cherie, had taken him and a friend's baby to the beach for the day.
Mrs Kara tried to save her son but lost her grip and he was swept out to sea.
Lifeguards from the Pacific Surf Life Saving Club, who were about 50m away for another rescue, managed to pull Jago from the water but were unable to revive him.
One of Jago's uncles, who lives in Hastings, told the Herald the boy lived with his mum, dad Jason and his two sisters - Chemise and Pikikura - in Hastings and had started school.
The man's wife, Jago's aunty, said her children often played with the boy.
"He was your typical 5-year-old. We knew him from when he was a baby. He was a very outgoing kid, really hypo. He got on with anyone and everyone."
The boy is now lying at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere, surrounded by family members. The woman said the atmosphere at the marae yesterday was "awfully sad", the funeral will be held tomorrow.
Police continued to interview people involved in the boy's rescue and other witnesses yesterday and the death has been referred to the coroner.
An Auckland resident said a freak wave crept up on him and his children near the spot Jago drowned.
Paul Birnie, who had been staying in Napier with his family, was walking along the beach with his two children, aged 6 and 10, and his brother-in-law's three children when a wave hit them.
"We didn't even see it coming. It was just pandemonium. The kids were fully clothed and got drenched. They were knocked over and lost all their jandals. We just feel so upset for [Jago's] family."
He said his 10-year-old daughter was especially upset when she heard what had happened to the little boy, wondering why the same thing hadn't happened to her.
The incident was one of two drownings on Tuesday. Paku Rigby, 67, was dragged out to sea while saving his granddaughter at Matapouri Beach in Northland.
The Napier drowning happened behind Marineland near two signs that read: "This beach can be dangerous at any time - use common sense."
There are more than 20 warning signs erected along Marine Parade, but Mr Birnie said there were no visible signs where they were walking.
"If we knew it was that rough it would not be the sort of situation we would put our children in."
