The grieving father of a young girl killed while riding her brand new bicycle said the tragic death could have been prevented.

Shinia Matehaere, 5, and her eight-year-old cousin were crossing a 70kmh stretch of road on their way to the nearby Te Matapihi Kohanga Reo school.

Shinia Matehaere celebrated her fifth birthday in January. Photo: Stuff.

Her father, Rikihana Matehaere, said the community had been lobbying Tauranga City Council "for years" to lower the speed limit outside the school on Saturday, reports Stuff.

They could even have put a pedestrian crossing in there."

There are no crossings in the vicinity of the school where Shinia started her first day shortly after her January 2 birthday.

Tauranga City Council's chief executive Garry Poole said he wanted to send their deepest sympathies to the family.

"We will investigate this situation immediately."

Rikihana said he and his partner, Shinia's mother Hine Minarapa, were "barely holding in there" as they tried to find a way to cope with the senseless tragedy.

The couple spent the night at the hospital with their little girl. Close family and friends gathered there with them to grieve on Saturday.

A relative, who did not want to be named, said the tragedy had devastated Shinia's parents.

"They're not good, I was just with them," she said.

Details of exactly what happened were not clear, but the children had only just left Shinia's home when she was struck by the ute.

"The school is right there where the accident happened. We've been complaining for years, for a very long time, that it's 70kmh," the relative said.

"We hope the council listens this time. They wouldn't even have meetings with us."

Shinia, who was described as a "quiet child", was given the pink and white bicycle she was riding when she died as a gift by her grandmother only last week.

"She only just started coming out of her house, riding out of her house," the relative said.

After Shinia was struck by the 4x4 ute on Saturday, the driver tried to help save her life. But she died from her injuries on the scene.

Hine Minarapa left the scene in the ambulance with her.

Witnesses said seven police cars plus an ambulance were on the scene. Police said the driver was co-operating.

The police serious crash unit conducted a scene examination yesterday afternoon.

Police said it would involve a scene examination, interviewing witnesses and the car will be examined.