Taupo farewells 12-year-old Mani

By EMMA BUTT in Taupo
Friends and family gathered at the Pakira Marae in Waitahanui yesterday to say goodbye to a young boy who loved the outdoors.

Bill Wall, known as Mani, died after he was hit by a car while trying to cross State Highway 1, 16km south of Taupo, with three friends on Saturday night.

He had reached the centre of the road, after swimming in the Waitahanui River, and had been waiting for traffic to pass when he was hit by a southbound car.

His funeral was held at the local marae before his body was carried on to the cemetery.

Mourners lined the roadside along the main highway to watch the 12-year-old boy laid to rest.

A spokesman from the marae said the family was still shocked by the tragedy and wanted the funeral to remain a private affair.

It has been reported that Mani is the second child from the Wall's extended family who has been killed on the same stretch of road.

Mani's grandmother lost another grandchild 15-years-ago on the state highway to a speeding car.

The death of the 12-year-old has stunned the small settlement with local residents now calling for the speed limit in the area to be dropped from 70km/h to 50. Residents say Mani is the third local boy to die on the same stretch of road.

Manager of the Windsor Lodge Motel and Caravan Park Bella Johns is starting a petition to have the speed limit dropped. Taupo police are still calling for witnesses to the accident and anyone who may have seen two cars speeding before the incident.

Police impounded a two-door Honda Prelude and a Mitsubishi Lancer after the incident and are investigating the drivers' behaviour before the accident.

Both drivers had stopped after the boy had been hit.

Sergeant Dave Frazer, who is leading an investigation into the accident, said the car which hit Mani was speeding but not by a "gross amount".

The Waitahanui boy was the 17th road death victim of the holiday period, which ended at 6am today.