The grieving family of an Australian teenager killed in a road crash in the Bay of Plenty have issued a heartfelt open letter of thanks.

Gabriel Conor Runge would have turned 17 on Monday, but he died after being involved in a crash with a milk tanker on State Highway 5, near Reporoa, on November 28.

Gabriel Conor Runge, 16, was killed following a crash with a milk tanker on State Highway 5, near Reporoa, on November 28.

Teacher Andre Vogel also died as a result of the crash.

The letter, published in the Rotorua Daily Post earlier this week, praises members of police, victim support, other emergency workers, local people and officials for their actions following the incident.

The van, driven by Andre, crashed as their party from the Pengari Steiner School, Noosa, returned to Rotorua after completing the Tongariro Crossing.

The letter, published in the name of Gabriel's parents and brother, begins: 'Our beloved son Gabriel Conor Runge was a very proud Australian who was to have celebrated his 17th birthday today (January 26), on Australia Day.”

It goes on: 'We - Pamela, Derrick and Godwin - wish to express our gratitude to the very many wonderful people in New Zealand who offered us their compassion, empathy, respect and support during this very tragic time.

'In particular, we found the New Zealand Police members attending the accident and assisting us with our enquiries to be wonderful ambassadors for their beautiful country.

'Inspector Kevin Taylor, Senior Sergeant Nicola Riordan and Constable David Mear spent many hours with us and at all times demonstrated patience, kindness, respect and professionalism.

'Equally, Sergeant Chris McLeod and Constable Pete Jones were courteous and helpful at this very distressing time.”

Rotorua Area Commander Inspector Bruce Horne says around 15 police staff had been involved and had approached the tragedy with empathy at every stage.

'Every step along the way they were thinking about how it would be if it was their own family,” he says. 'It was the 101 little things they did that made a big difference.”