Waverley still mourning

A tiny Taranaki community remains in shock a week after a horrifying car crash claimed the lives of seven people in one of New Zealand’s worst road accidents.

Yesterday funerals were held for five of the victims of the head-on crash, which happened on State Highway Three, just north of the town of Waverley on June 27.

Ian and Rosalie Porteous, aged 80 and 76, who were in the northbound car, were farewelled at the Taranaki Crematorium Chapel, while a service was held in Whanganui for Jeremy Thompson, his eight-week-old daughter Shady-Jade and stepdaughter Nivek Madams, 8, who were travelling in the southbound vehicle.

The sole survivor of the crash, Ani Nohinohi, the mother of the two children and partner of Thompson, who was in the southbound car, remains in a stable condition in ICU at Wellington Hospital.

A funeral for Ora Keene, 84, Ian’s sister, will be held at the Waverley Waitotara Cooperating – Church of the Good Shepherd today as well as a memorial service for Ian and Rosalie.

Brenda Williams, 79, who was the fourth victim in the northbound vehicle, was farewelled at the church on Monday.

Waverley resident Patrick McKenna, who knew all occupants of the northbound car, said the foursome often socialised together and were regulars at a community morning tea held at the town’s public library on Wednesdays.

McKenna said this week’s gathering felt empty without them.

‘‘There was a good turnout and we had a little prayer and thought for the lost ones,’’ he said. ‘‘People reminisced and told private stories about each one. It was rather lovely, actually.’’

Waverley fire chief Alan Hickford said the close-knit town was still reeling from the horrific crash.

‘‘Just from people I have talked to, everybody is still pretty bloody shocked about what happened but the town is getting on with things,’’ Hickford said.

‘‘They were so well known in the town.’’

Hickford said quite a few from his fire crew would be going to today’s service and he expected the majority of the town would also turnout.

‘‘I would be very, very surprised if it wasn’t absolutely huge.’’

Pa¯ tea fire chief Grant Hurley, who didn’t sleep the night of the crash after being one of the first to arrive at the scene, said emotions were still running high.

‘‘Everyone is still talking and thinking about it,’’ Hurley said.

Firefighters were dealing with the trauma of working at the scene.

‘‘We have talked all about it at training, so we are pretty good,’’ Hurley said. ‘‘We are getting a bit of support in just to help out but everyone is OK.’’