Aaliyah Cara Mita should have been celebrating being 12.
Instead, she suffered fatal injuries when the car she was in crashed into a bank last Thursday - the same day she turned 12.
She was the back seat passenger in a car that crashed along Owhata Rd about 7pm.
She was badly injured
in the crash and died three days later, on Sunday.
Police said the driver of the vehicle had failed to negotiate a bend, lost control and crashed head-on into a bank.
Tributes have been pouring in for Aaliyah - who was known as Lily - on her Bebo page.
One friend, who did not want to be named, told The Daily Post Lily was a "very good friend" and had "heaps of friends".
"Her whole school was upset when she was gone and they refused to go to class," she said.
The girl said she had been friends with Lily for two years.
"She liked to play netball, and she was spoilt by her nan. I think she was one of the youngest kids in her family." She said Lily was a warm and caring person and was always willing to share.
"She was very fun and loving," she said. "I'm going to miss her."
She said her friend's death had been a very big shock.
One Bebo tribute read: "loving you forever and ever aliah. you were such a darling not seeing you around is gonna be so hard. thinking of you always and forever babygirl".
Another tribute to Lily, posted on one of her friends' Bebo pages, said she would be remembered for always being a happy person who made those around her happy too.
It read: "gorgeous little girl lilly! i love you lots you ddn't deserve to leave us bby girl, ilovd how i wuld c u at netball all th time nd ud share ur chips or lollies/food with me eevery time, ur a good sister ... always dd wht sh said with a smile on ur dial ur always a happy person no matter wht ur doing (: kays loves u hunny, xox. ... . gna miss you soooo much my darling, be thnking of u xxx i love you aaliyah cara mita Rest Easy bub July 1st 1998 - July 4th 2010."
Lily's tangi will be at Te Rama Marae, Te Toke Rd, Reporoa at 11am today.
Her family could not be reached for comment.
