A family — and an entire community — is grieving after the devastating Mount Maunganui landslide claimed the life of 15-year-old Sharon Maccanico. 😢 She died alongside her boyfriend, Max Furse-Kee, a loss that has left hearts heavy and words painfully inadequate.

Sharon and Max were both students at Pakuranga College, remembered by friends and classmates as inseparable. Their bond was young, genuine, and full of promise — the kind that speaks of futures still being written. In a single, cruel moment, those futures were taken far too soon. 🕯️🌧️

As the reality settles in, friends, families, and classmates are struggling to comprehend the scale of the loss. Grief has rippled outward, drawing the community together in quiet vigils, shared memories, and gentle support for those left behind.

Some tragedies resist explanation. They leave only silence, sorrow, and the shared human instinct to stand closer to one another.

Tonight, a community mourns.
And two young lives are remembered with love.