Patea's sister Jessica Palmer has changed her Facebook profile photograph to a white ribbon, in support of victims of domestic violence.
Ms Palmer penned an emotional tribute to Ms Brown, who had been in a relationship with Patea since high school. The pair had a child together, a daughter name Aria who is now three. They had broken up recently and while Patea hoped for a reconciliation Ms Brown had told friends the relationship was definitely over.
Ms Brown had a temporary protection order put in place against Patea the week before she was killed. She had also gone to police for help after receving texts from Patea. They turned her away.
She was close to Patea's sister, who posted her message on social media on Wednesday night.
Tara Brown with her ex-partner Lionel Patea, who has been charged by police. Photo / Facebook
'I love you. I wish you could come back. No one deserves this experience. No one should die before their parents. No child should grow up without their mummy," she said.
"How will I tell Aria that she won't be going home to her mummy or her home? You were the best mummy.
"I'm scared to go to sleep because I don't want to see you in my dreams. I want to see you in real life, full of life. I want to see your beautiful smile, those gorgeous dimples and your kind demeanour,'
'I'm so angry you have been taken away from us, from Aria. The day Aria was born was the most exciting day of my life. I couldn't wait to meet her. I couldn't believe how gorgeous she was and how I could love her ever so much.
"I hope you feel peace and know that you are loved. We will do everything possible to ensure Aria has the opportunities to become a hard-working, strong, moral, kind and respectful young lady."
Ms Palmer also called for people to take a stand against domestic violence. "One woman a week dies from a domestic violence related incident," she wrote in a post on social media.
"Don't become or let your loved one become a statistic."
A fundraising page set up to support Ms Brown's daughter and family has a total of $33,820 in donations from 891 people this afternoon.
A donation believed to be from Ms Brown's employer of $500 had a touching message with it.
"We hope you feel safe now Tara. We will miss your humour and smile. Our thoughts are with your daughter."
Patea remains in Hospital under guard. Hours after Ms he turned himself in to police with self-inflicted stab wounds.
He will be charged with murder next month when he appears in the Southport Magistrates Court.
Ms Brown's friend Jahna Tumoana also posted on Instagram.
"The system needs to change. There needs to be more support for domestic violence sufferers and unstable minds," the post said.
"Our beautiful friend is now a statistic under death by domestic violence. Our other friend who would always be the first person at our doorstep when trouble comes, is now (an alleged) murderer."
"She battled through for as long as she could proving us all how much of a soldier she really is.
"We are all so proud of you. To see you lying there at the hospital really tore my heart out. I'm so grateful I got to be there just before you passed. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
"We will look after Aria like she was one of our own."
Ms Brown was a keen touch rugby player. Her local team will hold a minute's silence in her memory before this weekend's match.
