Huge turnout to farewell Kristi

Tamlyn Stewart | 28th July 2010

18-year-old Rotorua Girls' High School student Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner was farewelled by more than 1000 people at her funeral at the Rotorua Girls' High School Arena yesterday.

Kristi was taken off life support at Waikato Hospital on Friday and passed away just after 8pm, surrounded by family and friends - the day after the vehicle she and four friends were travelling in collided with a Toyota Hilux utility.

A visibly upset Karen Gardiner said family had always meant everything to her daughter: "Kristi's brothers were her rock."

She said Kristi was "a bit of a tomboy" and was never really into girly things, enjoying things like skateboarding.

FULL STORY AND MORE PICTURES IN TODAY'S DAILY POST.