The 19-year-old died on Tuesday, following a long battle with bowel cancer.
Nearly 400 people attended the funeral, held at the Kings & Queens Performing Arts Centre, this morning for the nearly two-hour service.
Family and friends talked about Mitch being a leader, a mentor and defiant until the end. Words in tributes included strength, courage, humility, grace and dignity.
Tears flowed as people remembered his smile and laugh. The song Lay Me Down by Sam Smith was performed and, as the casket was carried to the hearse, Stand By Me by Ben E. King was played.
King's High School pupils then farewelled Mitch with a stirring haka as the hearse left the school grounds.
Mitch was only at King's for a couple of years, but had such a big impact on staff and fellow pupils that his family decided to hold the funeral there.
In September 2015, while he was in year 12 at King’s, he was given the diagnosis. Doctors told him he was one in a million because it was rare for someone his age to have bowel cancer.
Mitch was raised in Invercargill, but lived with his aunt in Dunedin so he could pursue his passion for rugby at King’s. He was an elite sportsman with a promising future in rugby. He was also a high achiever in his school work.
Acting deputy rector Darin Smith said pupils and staff were "devastated" by the news of Mitch’s death.
"They’re hurting, but I’ve said to the staff, ‘let’s keep an eye out for the boys and let’s look after each other’."
Mr Smith said they had been inspired by Mitch’s calmness and dignity in the face of adversity.
"The strength of character that he has shown sends a very clear message to us all, about how we need to ensure that we embrace life.
"We talk to the boys all the time about not letting opportunities slip by because you just don’t know what the future holds.
"We can’t be complacent with this gift of life - 19 years old, the world at his feet ... He was only here for a couple of years, but he had such a big impact on people - students and staff."
Since his diagnosis, Mitch had been living back in Invercargill with his mother, Ana, and siblings Anthony, Mya, Nthswana and Neo.
In a previous article, Mrs Pereira described Mitch as an extremely active young man, who continued to smile and laugh throughout his illness.
He was positive, optimistic, extremely talented and excelled at anything he attempted, she said.
