Kristi's life gift | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner was well known for her kind and giving nature and even after her death, gave as much as she could by donating her organs.

The 18-year-old Year 13 Rotorua Girls' High School student was taken off life support at Waikato Hospital on Friday and passed away shortly after 8pm, surrounded by family and friends.

Kristi was one of five girls whose vehicle was in a collision with a Toyota Hilux utility just north of the Whakatane turn-off on State Highway 33, about 10am last Thursday.

Her mother Karen Gardiner said it was testament to her daughter's giving nature that she decided to donate her organs to others to give them a better chance at life.

"We were very open with each other and when she went for her driver's licence she said she wanted to be a donor. I thought it was a wonderful thing for her to do ... I just didn't think it would happen like this," Miss Gardiner said.

Her daughter had wanted to become a dog handler in the police force, she said.

"She was always giving little gifts to us and her friends. She had a love for everything, she was such an all-rounder, all she wanted to do was give. I think it's important people know she was a donor too."

Miss Gardiner told The Daily Post she understood the four people who had received her daughter's organs - her kidneys, liver and heart valves - were doing very well.

Meanwhile, she said hundreds of people had been visiting her Rotorua home over the past few days to bid her daughter farewell and she was extremely grateful for the help and support she had received from the school.

"I've just been blown away by Girls' High, they have just been amazing and have helped us get through this.

"We're coping as best we can ... I'm just on auto-pilot at the moment. I think it will all sink in after [her funeral]."

Kristi's funeral will be held at the Rotorua Girls' High School arena tomorrow and she will be buried in the dress she was going to wear to the school ball.

"Both her father and I ride Harleys - we were going to take her [to the ball] on the back of the bikes, she thought it would be a bit different," Miss Gardiner said.

Four other Rotorua Girls' High School students - Cheyenne Grace, Bobby-Leigh Morrison, Tui Martin and Adrianne Martin-Ohlsen - were also injured in last week's crash. Tui Martin remains in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital while the three others remain in Rotorua Hospital. A passenger in the other vehicle involved was discharged from hospital on Friday.

The school ball, which was to have been held on Saturday night, has been postponed until August 21.

Rotorua Girls' High principal Annette Joyce said she wanted parents to be with their children. "[The ball] will now be a celebration - that's what it should be so we want it to stand on its own."

Rotorua Girls' High Year 13 student Astrid de Jong, who was organising an alcohol and drug-free after-ball party, said many students were pleased the ball was postponed and she probably wouldn't have gone if it had been held.

"It's not the right time to be doing that at the moment. Everything's on hold."