Matthew Martin/Stuff
The scene of the motorcycle accident on Amohau St, Rotorua on Thursday.
Police have named a teenager who died when their motorcycle collided with a utility pole in Rotorua as 17-year-old Aidan Nicholson.
In a tribute to Nicholson, posted on the Rotorua Boys’ High School Facebook page, Principal Chris Grinter described Nicholson as “a happy, positive and likeable student that the school’s teachers and students loved being around and around” .
“He was quick to understand and had a great sense of humor. He made employees and fellow students laugh.”
Ginter said the crash, which happened on Thursday, was a huge shock to everyone at the school.
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“It has been a long time since the school has had to address the grief and challenge associated with the loss of a popular student,” he said.
“Aidan’s loss has certainly been felt at the school and a support space has been set up within our tutoring faculty where Aidan’s friends and peers come together.
“Aidan also has a younger brother in grade 10 at this school, so the impact of Aidan’s loss has affected hundreds of students across all grade levels and all staff.”
He said the school hoped in due course to honor Nicholson with a memorial after talks with his family.
Grinder said Nicholson grew up to be a fine young man.
He said Nicholson’s passions were technology and physics, and that he envisioned his future path to embrace those areas.
“He was so excited about the technology workshop space that he felt he justified his own set of keys,” he said.
“He was a capable student and all his teachers said he was a joy to have in the classroom. He had many thoughts and ideas on many subjects and was always eager to express them, often in a cheeky and/or fun way.
“He was certainly entertaining and everyone enjoyed his company.”
Grinder said the staff had an extremely positive view of Nicholson, including when he would “stunned” them with his knowledge of historical facts.
“Aidan Nicholson was a proud young man of Raukura and he will be sadly missed,” he said.
“The school would like to extend our condolences to Aidan’s family and we mourn the loss of a young man who has faced an exciting and successful future in so many ways.”
Police also expressed their condolences to his friends and whānau, saying the investigation into the crash was ongoing.