Town reels after young pair killed

Two funerals are being planned in Reporoa for young men whose lives were lost in a horrific crash. Daily Post reporter Kelly Makiha spoke to the mums about their boys.
The deaths of two young Reporoa men has left their grieving mothers pleading that their lives not be taken in vain.

James Rameka, 17, and his friend, Phillip Day, 25, were killed instantly when the BMW they were in about 2.30am on Saturday lost control on State Highway 5 at Ohaaki, north of Taupo, and slid into a power pole.

The township of Reporoa, 40km south of Rotorua, is reeling as it prepares to say goodbye to two well-known faces. James was in his final year at Reporoa College. His family and friends described him as a "hit with the ladies" and a talented basketball player who "just glowed" whenever he walked in the room.

Phillip's family say he was a character who children were drawn to with a toothless smile that made his whole face light up.

The crash survivors - James Ball, 22, and Shaun Phillips, 18 - were yesterday attending the tangi of their friends.

The driver, James Ball, was uninjured but Shaun has a broken arm. Police say they are still investigating the cause of the crash.

The mothers of the dead men were yesterday fighting back tears as they thought of their sons' wasted lives. James' mother, Dianne Tadema, said she hoped her son's friends would learn from the deaths.

"Shaun has had his head down all day. I picked his head up, took his glasses off him and looked him in the eyes and said 'don't let James' death be in vain'," she said.

Ms Tadema, who drives a City Ride bus, said she was on the road 10 hours a day and saw "scary" driving by young people.

Whatever caused her son's death, she said the others would have to live with for the rest of their lives.PARAGRAPH CONSIDERING CHARGES COULD BE LAID"These young ones have to learn they can't control these cars ... They're just driving too fast."

Phillip's mother, Ellen Day, said the young men had been at Shaun's farewell in Reporoa on Friday night as he was supposed to leave for Australia yesterday. They were driving back to James Ball's house near Ohaaki when the crash happened.

She said the lost lives had hit the survivors hard. "I think our boys are all feeling it ... I hope it is a learning curve for all the young ones. They think they are invincible."

Both mothers said they were grateful to the Reporoa community which had rallied around with enormous support from koha to food.

James is the youngest of four sons, including Jason, 32, Phillip, 23 and Marc, 22, to Ms Tadema and Stewart Rameka of Reporoa.

One of James' best friends, Sarah Tawa, who had been inseparable from James since they were children, said he meant everything to her. "He was the kindest ever."

Marc said he loved his little brother more like a son.

"I felt like I had to look after him ... I loved him dearly."

James is lying in state at his father's Reporoa home. His casket will be carried through the Reporoa Village to his college on Wednesday at 1pm for his funeral service which would be followed by his cremation in Rotorua.

Phillip has three sisters, Renee, Michele and Bubba and an older brother, Thomas. The son of Ms Day and Alfred Whitehead from Reporoa, he has lived all his life in Reporoa. His tangi is being held at Mataarae Marae in Reporoa, with his funeral service tomorrow at 11am followed by burial at Waimahana Urupa.