Family and friends of Ihaia McPhee Maxwell farewell their cheeky young boy

STUFF

Ihaia McPhee Maxwell, 15, is carried to the hearse at his funeral.

A 15-year-old who died in a police chase near Palmerston North was a cheeky young boy with a natural talent for rugby.

At Ihaia's funeral in Palmerston North on Friday, his grandfather Dennis Maxwell said Ihaia was a cheeky young fellow who they loved very much.

"It's a huge loss."

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF

Flowers at the crash site near Longburn.

Ihaia and Meadow James, 12, died when the stolen blue Subaru they were fleeing police in hit a power pole on Monday near Longburn. Ihaia was at the wheel.

Hundreds of his friends and family gathered to farewell the young man, with tears shed and memories shared. 

During the service, Maxwell said his family accepted Ihaia made a huge mistake in his thought process.

Now, they needed to make sure Ihaia's cousins, siblings and friends did not follow the same path.

"It may be fun at the time, but if they chase you, pull over."

Maxwell said this situation made him think of a quote he learned at school: "To err is human, to forgive divine."

"Today, it's more relevant than ever. The boy may have missed it. I emphasise boy. He was a boy." 

Ihaia's Kia Toa coach recalled the teen as the most naturally gifted rugby player you would ever see. 

He was described as "lightning and fearless" on the rugby field 

He said most people in life got the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. 

But Ihaia did not. 

"This is the result of 90 seconds of bad decisions. Ninety seconds doesn't make a bad boy."

As Bob Marley's Redemption Song played, a slideshow showed images from Ihaia's life, surrounded by family and friends, and of course playing rugby. 

Flowers were placed around his coffin and as he was carried to the hearse, a roaring haka was performed to send him on his final journey to the cemetery.

Meadow's funeral is on Saturday.