Lily Arabin Dies in Tauranga Crash, Sister Shares Heartfelt Tribute

Mersey Burrows, Lily Arabin’s sister, recalls the final message she sent to her sibling before the tragic accident that claimed her life. The message, written on June 26, conveyed deep admiration: “You’re doing good. Just be kind to yourself, and I’m proud of you.”

Later that day, Lily, a 34-year-old mother from Te Puke, was involved in a collision on the Tauranga Eastern Link (State Highway 2) between Pāpāmoa and Paengaroa just before 10 a.m. She was transported to Waikato Hospital but succumbed to her injuries the same day.

Burrows described her sister as highly intelligent and creative. “She wasn’t a social person and would always choose a book and coffee over having interactions with people,” she shared. Despite her challenges with mental health and addiction, Burrows emphasized the importance of remembering Lily at her happiest. “I liked her best when she was happy. She was always cheeky and had a really quick sense of humor because of her intelligence.”

Lily had a passion for food, gardening, and was once a skilled boxer. “She was a wizard with house plants,” Burrows said. Her creative spirit also extended to making unique pottery items for friends and family. “Lily worked at a pottery place when she was living in Welcome Bay, and she used to make random little things for everybody.”

Her love for dogs was also notable. “Any dog that needed rescuing, and any chance she could take it and give it a home, she would.” Before her death, Arabin entrusted her two sons, aged 5 and 8, to Burrows for care. The sister and her nephews were by Arabin’s side in her final moments at the hospital. “I just held her face and talked to her while her heart slowly stopped beating,” Burrows said tearfully.

In a poignant gesture, Burrows created a special memory for the boys by having them stand in front of the rescue helicopter that took Lily to the hospital. “That was what their mum was taken to the hospital in,” she said. “We watched it land, called out to the pilot, and he let the boys stand in front of the helicopter for a photo. We called that mum’s last ride.”

Burrows expressed deep gratitude to those who assisted her sister at the scene. “The family is so grateful to the public who stopped and also to the first responders. We know that it was a horrible scene to turn up to, and I’m just so thankful that people helped.”

Arabin was laid to rest in a heartfelt funeral attended by family and friends. A police investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing.

As the community mourns the loss of Lily Arabin, many remember her as a vibrant, creative, and compassionate individual who touched the lives of those around her.