Loss of four teenagers felt throughout community

Trauma support is being provided to schools in Invercargill as the impact of four teenagers dying in a car crash ripples through the city and Bluff.

Indaka Rouse, 16; Konnor Steele, 16; Kyah Kennedy, 16, all from Bluff; and Omaruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai, 17, from Invercargill, died following a collision between the Ford Ranger they were travelling in and a truck, on Queens Dr in Invercargill on April 22.

Funerals for the boys started earlier in the week and the last one, for Rouse, was held in Bluff on Saturday.

Whā nau paid their respects to him at Te Rau Aroha Marae.

A Givealittle page set up for Rouse’s mother to ease some financial strain describes him as a much-loved son, brother, friend and family member to all who loved him.

By yesterday the page had raised $14,210.

Ministry of Education Te Tai Runga (south), hautū (leader) Nancy Bell said it was providing traumatic incident support to schools that the ministry knew was impacted by the deaths.

All of the boys were former students of Southland Boys’ High School, but the impact of their deaths is wide-ranging as the boys were popular, sporty and belonged to a number of clubs throughout Southland.

‘‘The schools and their communities have been deeply affected by this tragic event. Our support is available for as long as needed,’’ Bell said.

The ministry’s traumatic incident teams provide advice and support to help schools respond and recover from traumatic events.

This includes helping them understand the emotional and psychological impacts of an incident and how it affects behaviour, as well as linking the school with other appropriate services where necessary.

University of Auckland professor of clinical psychology Dr Ian Lambie said the deaths would potentially have a profound longlasting effect on the community.

While people would be questioning why such an incident happened and looking for answers, it was important not to blame anyone, he said.

‘‘I think the blame game, it’s not uncommon . . . but people are looking for answers,’’ Lambie said.

Instead, it was important to support the families and people connected to the boys, he said.

Victoria University of Wellington clinical practice manager and registered clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland said any death of a young person always had a strong impact. ‘‘That’s, I guess, because there’s a sense of people not reaching their potential and not being able to achieve a life that we hoped that they would live, and you’ve got that four times over with this horrific crash.’’

That this had taken place in a small community, the effects would be magnified due to all those close connections, Sutherland said.

‘‘Even if you didn’t know the young men personally, you probably know somebody who knows them or their family.

‘‘And so there’s that sense of a real ripple effect of grief and sadness throughout a small community, that really shakes the foundations . . .’’