"He was diving between Rocket Lab [launch site] and Mahia beach, on the western side," he said.
"He was diving for seafood for his uncle's tangi. He wasn't on his own."
He said the diver's partner had a big family and "lots of support" in Mahia.
The man's tangi will also be held later this week, he said.
The Mahia Maori Committee has placed a rahui on the collection of kaimoana [seafood], meaning the collection of seafood is now prohibited in the sea along the western coast of Mahia Peninsula from Kinikini [Long Point] in the north, through to Ahuriri Point [Onenui Station] in the south.
The rahui will be in place from Monday until the day after the burial.