The Maori King arrived at Ohiemutu yesterday to pay his respects to Sir Howard Morrison.
King Tuheitia and a delegation of about 200 Tainui were welcomed on to Te Papa-i-Ouru marae in front of Tamatekapua meeting house, where Sir Howard's body has been lying since Friday.
The visit was the first the king had made to the marae since he had taken the title, family spokesman Monty Morrison said. However, it is not the first time he had joined the Morrison whanau as they mourned. In January 2007 he accompanied the body of Sir Howard's sister, Atareta Maxwell, back to her Ohinemutu home after she died suddenly in Waikato Hospital.
Despite constant rain, a steady stream of mourners continued to flow into Ohinemutu, with at least 5000 expected before Sir Howard's funeral service on Tuesday.
Representing the Government at the funeral will be Deputy Prime Minister Bill English. Prime Minister John Key was asked whether he was going to cut short his trip to the US to return for the entertainer's funeral.
"I am obviously very saddened to learn of his (Sir Howard) death, he was a wonderful New Zealander, in the final analysis I've decided that Bill (English) as acting prime minister can represent me."
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