Sir Howard Morrison is to be laid to rest at Rotorua's Kauae Cemetery on Tuesday, following a funeral service scheduled for 11am that morning.
He will be buried alongside members of his whanau.
In line with his family's wishes he will lie at his Ohinemutu home on the shores of
Lake Rotorua tonight before being carried the few metres to Tamatekapua, the premier meeting house of Te Arawa, where his public tangi will be held tomorrow from about 10am.
Tuesday was chosen for his farewell to allow his numerous relatives and friends from overseas the opportunity to say goodbye.
Family spokesman Temuera Morrison said his uncle's farewell would be a "huge celebration of a great life".
"Uncle would like it like that. He had the great ability to see celebration in everything. This is the way he wanted to go."
He said it had already become obvious that Sir Howard was a very popular man.
"So many accolades are already flowing in - the phone is ringing red hot."
His uncle had died peacefully in bed at his own home.
"He's got a little smile on his face."
Morrison said a number of Ohinemutu residents had noted that a "funny kind of surreal mist" had been hanging over the village at the time of Sir Howard's passing.
"Maybe he hopped on that, crossed the waters (of Lake Rotorua) and visited Mokoia Island as he started his great journey onward."
As well as having a beautiful voice Sir Howard always had an element of cheek about him, Morrison said.
He liked to `sus' people out to see where they were coming from.
He was very charismatic, performing everywhere. He had a remarkable following and the special gift of feeling an audience as he worked his way to his crescendo.
After his own father's death, members of his immediate family had been guided by their uncle Howard, Morrison said.
"He held a kind of awe for us, there was this mystique about him, but to us he was a father figure guiding us to stand on our own feet and hold our own."
He had fond memories of his uncle returning from a trip to the East with toy machine guns for young whanau members to play with.
"Things popped out the back - they had all the gears, we'd never seen anything like it."
He said as well as his Rotorua roots through the iwi of Te Arawa and its Ngati Whakaue hapu, Sir Howard had strong links with the Tuhoe, spending most of his early years in the Ureweras.
Sir Howard had a close affiliation with his home village of Ohinemutu and only recently sung at the Rotorua RSA to raise funds for St Faith's church and Whakaturia whare kai (dining room).
His cousin, Monty Morrison, said it had been a huge honour to have one of its own knighted. Tribal members were preparing to welcome guests from throughout the country.
Among the first to pay tribute and extend condolences was Dame Malvina Major with whom sir Howard had frequently sung and toured.
Sir Howard's family were aware of the number of heartfelt tributes pouring onto websites in recognition of his great talent.
"They are very touched. It is very warming, very heartening," Monty Morrison said.
- NZPA
Sir Howard Morrison. Photo / Richard Robinson
Sir Howard Morrison is to be laid to rest at Rotorua's Kauae Cemetery on Tuesday, following a funeral service scheduled for 11am that morning.
He will be buried alongside members of his whanau.
In line with his family's wishes he will lie at his Ohinemutu home on the shores of
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