Kiwi families who lost a loved one during lockdown attended a special memorial service to remember those who died.
A church in Tauranga held a service on Sunday so people who couldn't attend funerals due to restrictions during lockdown had a chance to grieve properly and to say their final farewells.
Heather Harvey, whose brother died of cancer at the beginning of the strict alert level 4 lockdown in March, was one of the many who attended the memorial at St George's Anglican Church.
"I just didn't realise grief was so dreadful and today's helped with closure. I really appreciate that," she said.
"The fact that so many people did bring photographs and did speak up and give their loved ones names made me realise that other people have the same feelings I have."
Organisers invited those attending to write messages of hope and draw cherished memories of those who'd died on rocks.
Service organiser Andrea Andreson said the memorial was a chance for people to come together and grieve.
"Our cultures require us to come together and to be with others and to share that comfort and to share that loss, and I think today actually gave people a chance to do that," she said.
Another attendee, Michelle Leslie, was in Queensland when her step-dad and grandmother died and said the memorial was a chance to remember those who had died.
"With COVID [it is hard] to not be able to just jump on a plane and travel home to your loved ones that have passed."
It was also special for Leslie because the church the memorial was held in was where her mum got married.
"I felt blessed to be here in the church and to be with my family."
Finding peace in a year that's been anything but peaceful.
