The 15-year-old Kelston Boys High student died after an alleged assault following school rugby training last week.
More than 1000 mourners this morning gathered at Kelston Intermediate, only a few hundred metres from where he suffered fatal injuries last Thursday afternoon.
Stephen's father, Brett Dudley, told the packed school hall he wanted to focus on the positives of Stephen's life and not anything negative.
"If we did that my son would have died in vain," he said.
"Stephen was quite simply the best son a father could have.
"Some people just weren't meant to be here long. Some people are just too special."
Mr Dudley said thousands of people had come to the family's home in the past few days to pay their respects to Stephen and offer support to the family.
"We thought we we knew our son before but there were things we found out in the last few days that we never knew and we are even more proud of him now.''
It was initially going to be a private ceremony "but Stephen was all about community", Mr Dudley said.
"My son was better looking than me, he was smarter than me, and he had a bigger heart than me and he shared it with everyone.
"We are in the month of Matariki and I believe he's in those stars now.''
Stephen's sisters Talita and Lisa struggled to hold back their tears as they spoke of their "idyllic brother''.
"He was known as Stephen the rugby player, Stephen the basketball player, Stephen the mate, one of the bros, Stephen the gentleman ... but to us he was just Stephen.
"We love him so much and I'm trying not to be sad because I know he lives on in my siblings and me and I'll hang onto that forever,'' Talita said.
Stephen's Kelston Boys High schoolmates lined the road and performed a rousing haka as his coffin was carried to a hearse.
He will be buried in Waikumete Cemetery in a spot overlooking his family's home.
"He looks down on us and rightfully so. He deserves to be up there,'' Mr Dudley said.
