By RNZ

Police have released the names of the four people who died in a crash on State Highway 5 near Rotorua on Monday, December 9.

Seven people were in the two cars involved in the collision at Whakarewarewa about 7.50pm.

Two people were taken to hospital, one in a critical condition.

Three people died at the scene, while another was taken to hospital and died later.

Three people in one vehicle died. Those three were: Amelia Rose Frost, 26, of Napier; Ruben James Frost, 18, of Napier; and Tray-Dee Akuhata Wall, 20, of Rotorua.

The fourth person who died was travelling in the second vehicle: MaryJane Merehini Heke, 50, of Rotorua.

Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

- RNZ

Siblings mourned ahead of funeral

By Raphael Franks, NZ Herald

A brother and sister have been identified as two victims who died together in a horror smash in Rotorua that claimed four lives.

Mother-of-two Amelia Rose Frost, 26, of Napier, was paid tribute to by her widower and in a funeral notice, identifying her as one of the victims of Monday evening’s crash.

“My children, our extended whānau and I are crushed to lose our precious love,” husband Josiah Lamont said.

“My girl is dancing among heaven’s flowers.”

Brother Ruben Stockdale-Frost, also of Napier, was also killed in the crash, the notice read.

Lamont described Stockdale-Frost as “one of the greatest young men I’ve ever known”.

Ruben Stockdale-Frost and Amelia Stockdale Lamont, 26, both of Napier, died after a crash on SH5 near Rotorua on Monday, December 7, 2024. Photo / Supplied

A fundraiser to support Stockdale Lamont and Stockdale-Frost’s family has been set up by Stockdale Lamont’s long-time friend Stevie Hawkins.

Hawkins said the pair had “their whole lives ahead of them”.

“As a community of people who loved them dearly, we are with their whānau and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.”

Hawkins said Stockdale Lamont was survived by her parents and her two young daughters, aged 3 and 2.

A funeral for Stockdale Lamont and Stockdale-Frost was held on December 14 at Engage Church in Napier. The pair will lay at rest at Kohupatiki Marae on Friday night after earlier laying at individual private addresses.

Lamont said “circumstances have been emotional for all”, but said the overriding emotion was love.

“Let’s together let the love of God fill our hearts [as] we reflect and grieve the loss of our precious family.”

“Let the love of our whānau cling to and comfort each other in our time of hurt and let both Millie and Ruben’s example of love carry us all into the arms of Jesus, [with whom] I’m confident they’re both resting,” Lamont said.

“My children, our extended whānau and I are crushed to lose our precious love, but I’m hopeful that Christ’s love will continue to surround us all of our days.

“Thank you all, for who you were to my girl and the lasting impact of love you have all shown to my family. Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.”

Tray Dee Wall was killed in a motor vehicle accident on State Highway 5 SH5 at Ngongotaha near Rotorua 09 December 2024 picture supplied https://www.facebook.com/photo/fbid=8879912965388651&set=gm.9159680424096283&idorvanity=202131506517931

Mary-Jane Heke, 50, was the first person to be publically identified as a victim, with her family remembering her as a beloved grandmother and “friend to many”.

A family member of Heke, meanwhile, wrote on social media on Tuesday night to announce her “sudden and tragic passing”, providing details surrounding her tangi.

Heke, also known as Mere, leaves behind five children and a grandchild – and was set to celebrate her 51st birthday on December 29.

Others paid tribute to Heke, saying she was “such a beautiful soul” and that she was “gone but not forgotten”.

Another family member said “tears from my eyes keep on falling”.