3am call breaks news of teenager's death | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

A Rotorua mother was woken at 3am Saturday with news no parent would want to hear - her 16-year-old boy had been fatally stabbed.

Tongarewa Thomas died at a Clinkard Ave house about 10pm on Friday. He had been stabbed and found lying in the driveway.

His mother, Janey Iraia, said the five-hour delay before she found out was because her son was known to friends by nicknames such as Bonga or Tonga, making it hard for police to identify him and contact her.

She said he had sustained a single stab wound to his left leg.

She hadn't been able to eat or sleep since she found out her youngest child had died.

Tongarewa had been drinking alcohol with mates at a close friend's house before he was stabbed.

A 14-year-old girl and her three friends had gone to the house to pick up a jacket about 7pm on Friday, when she had briefly met and talked with Tongarewa. The girl said Tongarewa and another teenager had been arguing.

"T was not doing anything wrong. He was just kicking back.

"It was the first time I met him and to think a couple of hours later he got stabbed. It's not a good feeling," the teenager said.

She and her friends had walked past the house after 10pm and police had told them "something" had happened.

Witness Lance Tamm said he had tried looking for the wound from which Tongarewa was bleeding, but was unable to.

A post-mortem examination was completed on Saturday but Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of the Rotorua CIB said police were not yet releasing the results.

"Detectives and forensic experts continue their examination of the scene and continue to speak with various persons who were in the neighbourhood at the time of this incident," Mr Loper said.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with assault in relation to the incident.

He has been remanded in custody to re-appear in the Rotorua Youth Court on Thursday.

Ms Iraia wants the teenager to be able to attend Tongarewa's funeral tomorrow.

"I would love for him to be here."

She said the teenager's family "all love" Tongarewa.

"Both families are supporting each other."

Ms Iraia said although her son got into a bit of trouble with the law, he had been a loving and caring young man.

"I think he was just yearning for good friends but wasn't sure how to make them."

He had gone to Sunset Primary School and Sunset Junior High before it closed. Ms Iraia said once the school closed he attended other schools for a time but had gone downhill from there.

He had behavioural and learning problems but had been "extremely intelligent and never got the chance to show it", his mother said.

"He started a downward spiral when the school closed," she said.

Sunset Primary School principal Niels Rasmussen described Tongarewa as a "cheerful" and "bright" boy who was always involved in things at school with his mother.

"He had lots of friends at school. He was a well-liked boy," Mr Rasmussen said.

Once Sunset Junior High School closed it's doors, Mr Rasmussen said he believed it left a lot of young people in the area - including Tongarewa - at a loose end and they slipped through the cracks.

"Someone of this age has gone so suddenly and so soon without a chance to realise his full potential."

He said he and other staff members would be attending Tongarewa's tangi.

The tangi is being held at Ruapeka Marae, past the Fitzgerald Glade. Tongarewa's funeral service will be held at the marae at 11am tomorrow and he will be buried at a family cemetery.