The spirits of Tongan students who survived a fatal bus crash are beginning to lift, says an organiser of the school trip.
Fifty-three people were on the bus when it plunged down a steep bank near Gisborne on Christmas Eve, killing 11-year-old Sione Taumololo and Talita Fifita, 33.
The bus was carrying students and band members from Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapi College. They were on a four-week New Zealand tour to raise money.
Some survivors performed at a concert in Gisborne last night.
Those who were well enough would travel to Auckland today for a service tonight.
One of the trip organisers, Mele Suipi Fakatava-Latu, said they had received a lot of support and the pain was starting to ease.
The students would continue the tour until 10 January.
The bodies will be returned to Tonga on Saturday.