partly cloudyDunedin 17 | 10
Monday, Mon, 12 MayMay 2025
Subscribe

Funeral for third teen killed in Invercargill crash

The funeral for 16-year-old Kyah Kennedy is being held today. Photo: George Heard
The funeral for 16-year-old Kyah Kennedy is being held today. Photo: George Heard
The funeral for 16-year-old Kyah Kennedy, who died in a crash in Invercargill a week ago, is being held today.

Kennedy and three friends, O Maruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai (17), Konnor Steele (16) and Indaka Rouse (16) died in a collision with a concrete truck on Queens Drive last Friday.

Today, friends and family gathered for his funeral at the Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff.

Before the service began, a slideshow with photos of Kennedy was played. His family could be seen sitting on the floor of the marae next to photos of him.

Photo: Toni McDonald
Photo: Toni McDonald
The mood was solemn with a large crowd in attendance.

A eulogy was read by the host of the service on behalf of Kennedy's family.

"Kyah was a young man who loved to succeed and loved knowing. He made everyone proud.

"Kyah was a sore loser, just like his dad. He was very competitive at everything, he was our little book of knowledge," he read.

After the service, Kennedy's body will be transported to the cemetery.

Kyah Kennedy was killed in a crash in Invercargill last Friday. Photo: Supplied
Kyah Kennedy was killed in a crash in Invercargill last Friday. Photo: Supplied
A tangi for him was held on Tuesday this week.

It comes after funerals for two of the other teenagers yesterday.

The first was for O Maruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai, known as Maru to those close to him, at the Ngā Hau E Whā marae in Invercargill.

An hour before the service at 11am, a congregation of loved ones and locals were lining Conon St.

Cars filled the blocks surrounding the marae and a gathering outside the marae throughout the morning.

Police and Maori wardens blocked off Conon St from traffic as the group held the service on the road outside of the marae.

The crowd was huddled on the road surrounding a van where Tawahi's body was placed for transportation to the Eastern Invercargill Cemetery.

A funeral for Konnor Steele was also held yesterday. His coffin was brought across the Bluff Rugby club field on the back of a ute with his brother and dad sitting in the open air with him.

A large crowd of people gathered outside to greet the delivery of the coffin and then began to filter inside the clubrooms.

There were around 200 people still gathering outside the clubrooms, unable to get inside the packed memorial service.