Rotorua mourns

As mist rolled on to Ohinemutu, the sky released a light drizzle to share in Rotorua's tears for a great man - Sir Howard Morrison.
Thousands of mourners are expected to converge on Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu, in what is being described as an "unprecedented" show of grief for a man who was a legend in the entertainment world.
Sir Howard was discovered yesterday morning by a family member.
He died in his sleep as a result of a heart attack in his home in Korokai St.
Family spokesman Monty Morrison said Sir Howard was found by one of his moko (grandchildren) who had been taking him his morning cup of tea.
"We have lost our poutokomanawa [centre pillar], the leader of the Morrison family. It's obviously a sad loss," he said.
"It's always unexpected but, in Sir Howard's case, he had been ill for a while.
"His passing has come at the end of a family holiday in Rarotonga and he passed away among his family."
Mr Morrison said Sir Howard's wife, Lady Kuia Morrison, was holding up well.
"She's a very strong woman and I think it's hard to gauge the tremendous loss. For all of us, we are trying to recover the best we can for the days that are ahead."
Mr Morrison said it was hard to predict how big Sir Howard's tangi would be.
"We only have Taini Morrison's tangi to gauge it by. We have no other precedent, other than that."
Mr Morrison said the family had a huge task on its hands to cope with the visitors.
"We know the family have been offered some help from the Government."
 He said the New Zealand Army had also offered to help with catering.
Sir Howard's nephew, actor Temuera Morrison, said the family was devastated by his loss - especially with media attention having been focused on his health. "It's just one of those things. He's been up and he's been down, and recently he's been up. I just feel for [his children] Donna, Howard and Richard - their kids and his moko - because they were tight."
Sir Howard's body was returned to his family home in Ohinemutu just after 5pm yesterday.
Members of his family held a tarpaulin over his casket, shielding it from the rain as it was taken inside.
Sir Howard will 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 accordance with the wishes of his immediate family, he spent last night at his home. This morning his body was to be taken to his papakainga (family homestead), also in Ohinemutu, before being carried to Tamatekapua, the premier meeting house of Te Arawa, where his public tangi will be held.
Temuera Morrison said some Ohinemutu residents had noticed a "funny kind of surreal mist" had been hanging over the village at the time of his uncle's passing.
"Maybe he hopped on that, crossed the waters [of Lake Rotorua] and visited Mokoia Island as he started his great journey onward."
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The Rotorua District Council has set up a condolence book in the council Civic Centre to acknowledge the passing of Sir Howard Morrison.
Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters is inviting Rotorua residents to call in and sign the book as their personal tributes to Sir Howard.
Mr Winters said it was important for the council to provide an opportunity for local people to leave personal messages and to express their memories of Sir Howard.
"While he is a national and international icon, in Rotorua he also is a much-loved and highly respected local hometown figure."