Surfers pay tribute to Doug Tamaki at Mount

A surfer paddle out at Mount Main Beach was a fitting tribute to a well-respected man who loved the sea.

Family and friends took to the water last night to pay their respects to 56-year-old Doug Tamaki, who died on Saturday after suffering a major heart attack at his Mount Maunganui home on Thursday.

About 200 people were at the beach, either on the water, watching from shore or scattered on the rocks of Leisure Island as the surfers gathered in a circle, linked arms, said a prayer and scattered flowers and wreaths into the water.

The sea was calm and glassy, and a coloured sky reflected on the water as the sun begun to set behind Mauao.

Alex Dive, a friend of Mr Tamaki and his family, helped organise the paddle out at the request of Mr Tamaki's son Ethan.

Mr Dive said it was special to see the memorial unfold.

"It was almost quite a surreal feeling. I think [last night] was meant to be bad weather - I look at the weather forecast a lot, and it was meant to be windy and onshore, but it's nice and glassy, a nice, beautiful night.

"Maybe he's up there making it nice for us."

Mr Dive said it was cool for Ethan and the rest of Mr Tamaki's family to have everyone at the beach.

"It was an appropriate way to send him off.

"It's definitely what he would have wanted, which is a bit clichéd, but the turnout shows the amount of respect he has in the community.

"He deserves this, really."

Mr Dive said paddle outs were often used to celebrate a surfer's life and he was honoured to have helped out with Mr Tamaki's.

"Doug was really well known around the community; everyone knew who he was. He's such a special guy."

Jacob Warnes, 18, was a friend of Mr Tamaki's son Tawera and knew Mr Tamaki through the surfing community.

He said he wanted to get out on the water in Mr Tamaki's memory and have a good time for him.

Sean Meehan, 15, also knew Mr Tamaki through the surfing community and said Mr Tamaki loved surfing, so he was taking part in the paddle out to remember him.

Mr Tamaki, who has won several tourism awards, owned Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua with his brother Mike.

He is survived by his parents, Duke and Margaret, wife Katie, children Lyla, Ethan, Taiwa and Tawera, his grandson Awatea, brothers Mike and Brian and sisters Caroline and Tania.

Mr Tamaki's funeral service will be held todayat Classic Flyers Aviation Museum.