Te Arawa and numerous current and former politicians farewelled Sir Peter Tapsell at Whakaue Kaipapa Marae, Maketu today.
About 500 people gathered at the marae on the shores of the Maketu Estuary for the funeral service of the first Maori Speaker of the House.
They included incumbent Dr Lockwood Smith,former Speaker Margaret Wilson and members of the Labour and National parties.
Also present were former Act and Labour MP Richard Prebble and Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell.
Dr Smith was given the honour of delivering the eulogy for Sir Peter. He began and ended in Maori and said he had served with Sir Peter for 12 of his 15 years in Parliament.
