Exactly where Moko the dolphin will be buried is still in discussion, but at least one town is ready to bring its friend home.
Mahia in the Hawkes Bay - where Moko was first spotted - has started making preparations for the bottlenose dolphin's return.
A member of the Mahia
Maori committee responsible for dolphins and whales, Wiremu Blake, said he had already gained council permission for a special tomb and sculpture for Moko to be built in front of the fishing clubhouse on Mahia Beach.
"I've already organised for a digger and we would do the concrete vault facing the sea, and a memorial stone sculpture in the shape of a dolphin," Mr Blake said.
"Of course that's only if they let us have him. We'll probably go ahead with the memorial sculpture anyway, but we feel he should be brought here because this is his home."
At least five other dolphins are buried in the same area, Mr Blake said, a place where whales and dolphins were particularly sacred to the people.
Meanwhile, those in Whakatane are also fighting to have the dolphin's remains returned. Gisborne, Tolaga Bay and Te Kaha are also emerging as possible resting places.
There are suggestions of the dolphin being cremated, with his ashes being scattered in several areas where he visited.
The 4-year-old dolphin - who had become popular among many people around the country - was found dead on Matakana Island, off Tauranga, last week.
He was taken to Massey University where an examination was carried out, the results of which will be known this week.
Department of Conservation spokeswoman Katrina Knill last night said there had been no final decision. Talks between iwi were continuing, she said, and the outcome of that would help decide what would happen to Moko.
"I guess [cremation] would be one option. We could look at that, but at this stage, nothing has been finalised. We'll be strongly influenced by [what iwi want]."
