On the day Tam died, she had been making the most of the Auckland Anniversary weekend by heading north to test out some new camping gear she had bought. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was cold, rainy, and possibly the worst weather to go,\u201d Hugo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut these opportunities for her to get outside for an extended period and really do what she loved came rarely, so she took this chance.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 44-year-old was driving north on State Highway 1 with Grady and Nala when, about 30 minutes south of Whang\u0101rei, tragedy struck. <\/p>\n
The family\u2019s vehicle was involved in a three-vehicle crash, killing Tam and injuring her son and dog. <\/p>\n
A police spokesperson said the crash is being investigated. <\/p>\n
Grady and Nala are recovering well after the crash, but the family now face life without their devoted mum. <\/p>\n
Hugo said Tam loved nothing more than to see smiles on her children\u2019s faces. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe always put family first,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur smiles are proof of her love, devotion and dedication to raising us the best she could.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tam had her first son when she was 21. <\/p>\n
Within a few years, she had three children, was a single mum, did not receive child support and was working to support her family, Hugo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was troubling to see her work, but struggle to get ahead in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be completely honest, we grew up with a lot of financial hardship,\u201d Hugo said.<\/p>\n
He and his siblings often skipped lunches and morning teas. Going out to eat was too expensive as were vacations and electronic devices.<\/p>\n
But his mother\u2019s resilience pressed on. Hugo said Tam was the hardest-working person he knew. She did her \u201cdamned hardest\u201d to make up for what they went without. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn some days, she would come visit us in school to have lunch with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Together, they would share $5 value pizzas and a soda. <\/p>\n
Auckland mother Diana Tam with her three children, now grown \u2013 Lucy, Grady and Hugo.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe always gave us her time, and although we didn\u2019t have enough money to live a lavish lifestyle, we always spent time together \u2013 we didn\u2019t need money \u2013 we needed each other,” Hugo said.<\/p>\n
He called his mum a \u201cwarm and cheerful\u201d person, who greeted everyone with a smile. She was easy to talk to.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer bubbly character and almost child-like nature brought a refreshing sense of relief, calm and joy to everyone\u2019s day,\u201d Hugo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer voice was loud, prominent, and never missed,\u201d Hugo said.<\/p>\n
Diana Tam was 44 when she died in a car accident on the way to a camping trip in Northland.<\/p>\n
Tam\u2019s other love, outside of motherhood, was animals.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom chickens to horses, cats and dogs, cows and hedgehogs, she loved them all and wanted her own farm,\u201d Hugo said.<\/p>\n
The photos on her phone were all of nature shots, her dog Nala, and her children.<\/p>\n
Diana Tam with her beloved dog, Nala.<\/p>\n
Hugo said people couldn\u2019t believe it when news of Tam\u2019s death spread. <\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we all remember how we felt around her … I know I was the happiest.\u201d <\/p>\n