A large crowd has gathered at a Hamilton car wash for a memorial gathering for one of the victims of last week's fatal house fire.

Hundreds of cars are lining Te Rapa Strait at the northern end of the city and there is a strong police presence.

The crowd is paying tribute to Cody James, a car enthusiast who was among those killed in a house fire in the city last weekend.

There have been issues this week at the site of the blaze, where a number of people have been arrested for drunken behaviour while paying their respects.

Police are urging those at tonight's gathering to remember they are celebrating the lives of three young people.