A rāhui is now in place for all recreational activity within the Whangamatā Mountain Bike Park.
A post from the Whangamatā Mountainbiking Society’s Facebook page said Hilliar would be dearly missed.
“The King of the Mountain has fallen,” the post said.
“We will be forever grateful to have been in Andre’s presence at one point or another.
“His laugh will be forever echoed around the park and we will remember him on every climb. Andre your spirit will always be within our club, trails and mtb community, a hole that could never be filled.”
An obituary published in the NZ Herald notices said the Hilliar family wanted to thank search and rescue, the emergency services, and the whole Whangamatā mountain bike community “for their help and support in finding and bringing him home to us”.
The obituary described him as a “well-respected” mountain biker who was known as the “king of the mountain”.
It said he was not just known in the Whangamatā community but throughout the country and abroad.
He would be missed dearly by his wife, four children, grandchildren, extended family “and especially his dogs”.
A funeral service for Hilliar will be held at noon on Wednesday at Whangamatā Golf Club.
“Informal attire, bike shorts or lycra welcomed,” the notice said.
In lieu of flowers, the family have asked that donations be made to the Whangamatā Fire Brigade.
In a post on its Facebook page, the brigade sent “sincere condolences” to the Hilliar family.
“We are humbled by their request of donations to our brigade in lieu of flowers.”
