Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner was awarded the "Dancing Queen" award at her high school ball, even though she couldn't be there to claim it.
The 18-year-old Rotorua Girls' High School student died after a car crash on State Highway 33 a month ago.
The dancing award was her school's tribute to Kristi, her best
friend Lavinia Marra said.
"She really wanted it. She always used to have dance competitions with us."
Lavinia, Stevie Ward and Kim-E Maguire changed the ball outfits they initially planned to wear, instead wearing dresses identical to that Kristi would have worn, but in different colours.
"Kristi always liked us to be matching.
"She liked it when we went to school and to parties and stuff in matching outfits. So we thought it would be our own little tribute to Kristi, just a part of her with us," Lavinia said.
Kristi's mother Karen Gardiner said she wanted her daughter's best friends to have a great night at their high school ball, even though her daughter couldn't be there.
Seeing her daughters' friends prepare for the ball had been "extremely hard".
"You sort of want the world to stop. But it can't," she said.
Her daughter would have wanted her friends to go to the school ball and have a good time, Mrs Gardiner said.
A couple of the girls sent her text messages to say being at the ball didn't feel right, because Kristi should have been there.
"I texted back to say no, it's what she would've wanted, have a great time."
Mrs Gardiner said it was a "very emotional" night for her.
"Reality is starting to set in now that she's not going to walk through the door," she said.
Friends posted messages on Kristi's Facebook page about the school ball.
"Ball was mean but not as mean if you were here. Miss you kristi it hurts!", Kim-Emmanuelle Maguire wrote.
June Paretoa wrote; "hello BEAUTIFUL ... well I bet u enjoyed the Ball heaps and were there with ur awesome mates, didn't they look beautiful ... matching dresses even, Lavinia in her stunning yellow, Kim-E rockn that hot pink and Stevie girl gracn every1 in her blue, ... Jess with her pretty shimmer and sparkles.. Astrid in her beautiful blue ... everyone looked gorgeous as, up to ur standards ... There is no doubt in my mind that YOU are all around us ... LOVE you to bits ... today , tomorrow and ALWAYS."
