• Mere McCabe of Gisborne died in a Boxing Day crash.
• It happened near the Tairāwhiti-Bay of Plenty border on State Highway 35.
• The 39-year-old’s sister said McCabe “Spoiled me with so much love since day dot”.

Friends and family members have described the 39-year-old Gisborne woman who died in a State Highway 35 crash as “the best sister you could ever ask for”.

She was Mere Kohao Madeline McCabe, and inquiries into the crash are ongoing.

Emergency services were called at 11.15am on December 26, about three kilometres west of Lottin Point Rd, near the Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty border.

“One person was unresponsive when located by emergency services and tragically was unable to be revived,” police said earlier.

Several tributes to McCabe were posted on social media by her friends and family following her death.

“It doesn’t feel real that you are not here on earthside ... I miss you and love you very much Mere McCabe,” one family member wrote in a post.

In a Facebook post, McCabe’s sister Sunni Haare said her sister would support her if she were in trouble.

“Baby sister gets into trouble, Big sister takes the wrap,” she said.

“Never argued with me or tried to fight with me, even though we all know her short ass could easily smack me over with my attitude and side eyes.

“Always a protector to me. Spoiled me with so much love since day dot. Loved on my girl like her own and was a twin flame to our brother Kyro.”

McCabe’s cousin Rebecca Noble said, “Fly high my cousin.

“Soo numb right now, we were suppose [sic] to grow old together.”

A police spokesperson said they were “not in a position to comment specifically on whether a seatbelt or lack of, was an issue in this specific crash.”

“Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances and these can take some time.

“However, we can say that seatbelts absolutely save lives and that if you are involved in a crash they are one of the best defences you’ll have in determining whether you survive and avoid serious injury.”

Police have expressed disappointment with the high holiday road toll after attending eight fatal crashes so far where nine people have died.

During the Christmas period last year, 21 people died in road crashes.