Ten-year-old Tegan Chen drowned in the fast-flowing Marian Creek in Fiordland National Park in January 2024. Photo: Supplied
A plaque will be installed at a track in Fiordland National Park to remember a 10-year-old Australian girl who died there nearly two years ago.
Tegan Chen of New South Wales drowned in the fast-flowing Marian Creek in January 2024 during a family trip.
Her parents, Adrian Chen and Deb Fung, together with family and friends from Australia travelled to New Zealand last weekend to unveil a plaque dedicated to her.
The memorial reminded people "always that time is fleeting, life is uncertain and what truly matters is love".
First responders at the scene when the tragedy happened, including police officers and ambulance staff, as well as members from the Department of Conservation, joined the family at the blessing for the plaque, which Chen said was "really special".
Tegan Chen's parents, Deb Fung and Adrian Chen, attend a blessing for the plaque by Marian Creek in Fiordland National Park on 11 January. Photo: Supplied
"They've been so supportive, doing whatever it takes and bringing the whole community along the journey as well," Chen said.
"I think what we were so thankful was just how the broader Milford community actually came in to support us."
Chen explained that there was food catered at the blessing, and a free private cruise for Milford Sound was also arranged for them as that was where the family spent "the last happy moments" with Tegan.
Redoing the walk by the creek where she fell, as well as going on the cruise, was hard and emotional for Chen as he recalled the laughs and hugs on the way, as well as the tragic moments.
The landscape reminded him of a Māori proverb - "people vanished but land remained" ("whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua"), he said.
However, having family and friends on this journey created new memories that could overlay the sad memories, he said.
Tegan Chen's friends (right) strike a pose similar to the 10-year-old who drowned in Fiordland National Park in 2024 during a visit to honour her memory in January 2026. Left: Tegan Chen at Lake Wakitipu two years earlier. Photo: Supplied
"I think my conviction for doing this re-walk was around the question of how can this tragedy inform who I am today and how I continue to live forward in the present and to have greater purpose and to live out her legacy in my life and make a difference to other people," Chen said.
The family was launching initiatives in Tegan's name, including businesses and memorial gardens, in the hope of "transforming how society deals with grief".
"I think what we were subtly told was that it's just something you got to deal with and move on. You know, get over it," Chen said.
"But I think there's a way to try and do it in a beautiful way, which can feel like you're building on the memories of our loved ones."
Fung said it was about "reframing grief and loss ... with life and legacy".
"That pathway I think is different for everyone, but I think it's a pathway forward."
A plaque will be installed at a track in Fiordland National Park to remember Tegan Chen. Photo: Supplied
The Department of Conservation's director general, Penny Nelson, said it was "an honour to support Tegan's family at last weekend's blessing".
"I'm pleased DOC, NZ Police and the local community could offer some comfort as they marked the two‑year anniversary," Nelson said.
"Tegan's death was a tragic accident.
"Nature always carries an element of risk, but we've taken steps to prevent this happening again by adding extra warning signs and reviewing how we assess visitor use."
The plaque was unable to be installed last weekend due to heavy rain and would be installed next month, DOC said.
