Teammates dedicate tournament to Okeroa

Kristy Martin | Tuesday, July 19, 2011 14:50

TALENTED: Okeroa Douglas (centre) is pictured going for the ball in a hockey match between Rotorua Aces (black) and Hamilton Old Girls (maroon) at Smallbone Park last year.

File

Rotorua's Okeroa Douglas was a talented hockey player whose teammates saw her as a role model and an inspiration.

The 18-year-old was killed in a car crash on State Highway 5 near Rotorua on Friday night. The car she was driving hit a power pole next to the Lake View Golf Course just north of Rotorua at 9.55pm.

Rotorua police Sergeant Pauline Jones said the car crossed the centre line and left the road before crashing into the concrete pole. Okeroa died at the scene, while the front-seat passenger was taken to hospital with head injuries. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Okeroa has been lying at Tamatekapua Marae at Ohinemutu, and will be farewelled by her family and friends at a funeral service at 11am today.

Renee Ngatai, 16, and Hannah Keaney, 17, met Okeroa in primary school and played hockey with her in the Bay of Plenty Under-18 women's team.

"She was a role model and inspiration to young people. I'll miss everything about her," Renee said.

A student at Western Heights High School, Renee said the team would be putting their all into the hockey tournament in Auckland this week. "We're doing it for her."

She said Okeroa excelled in everything she did.

"She was my little star."

Hannah, a student at St Peter's School in Cambridge, said Okeroa was a lovely person.

"She was always smiling and she would always be there to cheer you up when you needed it."

The 17-year-old hoped the team would take out the hockey tournament.

"I hope we can win for her."

A death notice in The Daily Post yesterday said Okeroa was the loved mokopuna of Hinetaapora and the late Angus Douglas, Lyndsay and Jackie Katipa, cherished daughter of Angus and Jo-Ann, loved partner and soulmate of Dylan Irihei, also loved by Dylan's parents Maria and Kopae.

It said she was the dearly loved sister of Zanna Maraea and Pomane, Harata-June and Awatere, special aunty of Waikimihia and Awatere and loved niece, cousin, friend and student of Te Kura o Te Koutu.

On Sunday, Okeroa's family took her for one last drive through Te Kura o Te Koutu where friends and staff performed a haka. A tribute video has been posted for Okeroa on YouTube which features a slideshow of photos of the teen.

Tribute messages have continued to flood in and the Bay of Plenty Under-18 women's hockey team has pledged to dedicate this week's hockey tournament to the teenage player.

Coach Renee Wright knew Okeroa for most of her life.

"I've watched her develop as a hockey player over the years. She was a quiet, confident young woman."

Okeroa had been playing for a team in Hamilton after moving there this year to study at Waikato University.

University media relations co-ordinator Angie Knox said Okeroa had been studying in the School of Maori and Pacific Development in the Faculty of Education.

Okeroa was also in the New Zealand Maori women's hockey team, and Mrs Wright said the teenager had a beautiful nature.

She said the Maori world was a big part of Okeroa's life.

"Her attitude towards life was across the world. She really knew who she was."

Mrs Wright said Okeroa's hockey talents came down to great stick work.

Okeroa will be buried at Kauae Cemetery.