"Please help to ease any stress for Connor's family at this awful time, please give generously to bring their boy home and to lay him to rest. An incredible family who needs our support, x Love from the Reporoa community and your family and friends."
Connor's funeral will be held in St Stephen's Church, Reporoa, tomorrow, followed by a private burial. A funeral notice said Connor was a "much loved, gentle and caring son" who was tragically taken from his loving family.
He was the eldest of four brothers.
"You are such a good boy, we will miss you son," the notice reads.
Reporoa Rugby junior delegate Kelvin Thomas said the community was trying to support the Phillips family as much as possible, but nothing they could say would make the tragedy better.
"There's not really anything you can say. Just that we're thinking of them. We don't know how they feel, we can't say that because we just don't."
Connor's rugby coach, Carlos Latoa, said he would be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.
"I'd known this young boy Connor as a little blonde boy with a lot of heart. Every time he came and played footy for our team, he gave 110 per cent - no matter what, rain, hail or snow - he was out there.
"He's going to be sadly missed. In the community, his mates, everyone."
Reporoa Primary School's board of trustees said in a statement on Monday that Connor was a valued student who was admired and respected by his peers. "He was a great school leader and an amazing sportsman."
Police said they would not disclose the outcome of the post-mortem examination or make further comment until the end of their investigation.
