The miner killed when a loader he was driving fell into a stope in the Waihi Correnso mine last Thursday has been described as a quiet achiever.

A tangi for Tipiwai Stainton, 29, was held on Monday at Maraenui Marae on the East Coast.

Tipiwai Stainton. Photo: Remembering Tipiwai Stainton.

Many of OceanaGold's staff from Waihi have travelled to the small East Coast Marae to farewell their workmate and support Tipiwai's family, reports Gold FM.

OceanaGold senior community advisor Kit Wilson describes Tipiwai as a quiet achiever.

He was a member of the Mines Rescue Team, a member of the Safety Committee, a dedicated father.

"He's going to leave a gap that we're going to have real trouble filling. I guess the sadness is that you go to work one morning and you don't come home and we're all struggling to deal with that at the present time. 'It's at times like these you realise just what an absolutely fantastic community the Waihi community is,” says Kit.

Waihi has rallied to show its immense town spirit by pouring its condolences and sadness out to the family, friends and colleagues of Tipiwai Stainton.

The mine's general manager Bernie O'Leary says Tipiwai had been void-filling - which is back-filling waste rock - about 200m below the surface in the 300m-deep mine, when the accident happened.

Operations at the mine were suspended following the death and Worksafe New Zealand are investigating the matter.

The site of the accident was blessed on Friday morning after Tipiwai Stainton's body was removed from the mine.

OceanaGold staff were asked to meet at the Waihi Memorial Hall at 7.30am before returning to work.