Seventeen-year-old Courtney Bignell organised the vigil on Friday for murdered British backpacker Grace Millane.
It's the first time Courtney, an ex-Otumoetai College student has organised a community event. She wanted to show the Millane family they are supported throughout the country.

About 70 people including Labour list MPs Jan Tinetti and Angie Warren-Clark gathered at the Edgewater Fan on the Strand waterfront to pay their respects.

'We wanted the community to be able to come together and show Grace's family we're there and we support them,” says Courtney.

'Her death has led to a show of solidarity throughout the country, with all of us coming together.”

Courtney was also supported by the Warehouse Tauranga who provided tea light candles and a print poster of Grace.

The vigil is in relation the death of 22-year-old British woman Grace Millane.

Grace arrived in New Zealand on November 20 as part of a year-long backpacking trip.

She was reported missing after she failed to respond to birthday messages on Sunday December 2. Prior to her disappearance, Grace had been in contact with her family every day.

Her body was discovered in an area of bush about 10 metres off the road in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges, following a week long police investigation.

A 26-year-old man has been accused of her murder.

Grace's body has now been returned to her family.