"Time for memorial" family says

The last memorial is going to be next term following the Paritutu rock tragedy which killed three lifes, Stephen Gedye's father says "It's time for a memorial"

Two of the three memorials have already been done for the trio who swept to sea off Paritutu rock in August, with the last one to be held in a couple of weeks.

A service for Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye, 17, is being organised by his family for early next term so their son's class mates can say goodbye before finishing for the year.

Stephen a Spotswood College student and his Brazilian classmate Felipe Melo, 17, along with TOPEC instructor Bryce Jourdain, 42, died after a rock climbing tragedy on August 8th.

Stephen's father told the Taranaki Daily News "It is time to hold a memorial" 

"I'll contact the principal at the college when school goes back next week and make sure we pick a date that doesn't clash with anything else so students can attend," he said. "We've had no thoughts about what or where the memorial will be other than it will be early next term."

Mr Gedye still continues to search for his son every day  "I haven't gone back to work yet but I'll have to be there soon as I feel like I need to go back," he said.

"My work has been very gracious for a long time."

Mr Gedye said he doesn't expect any convictions to come from the investigations being carried out by police.

"It will be February 8, six months after it happened, before we see any reports but there won't be any convictions and I expect nothing to come from it," he said.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is also investigating.

Mr Gedye hasn't been in touch with Topec since he wrote a letter to the Taranaki Daily News last month blaming the outdoor pursuit centre for unsafe practices.

"It's probably not a good idea to talk with Topec and it won't help anything," he said.

The memorial will be held next term when school comes back next Monday, where he can get the oppurtunity to speak to the principle regarding the memorial.

Dribble NZ News/ Stuff.co.nz