Whangamomona packed with mourners attending state funeral.

More than 200 mourners attended a state funeral at Whangamomona Hall this morning, as loyal subjects, family, friends and tourists turned out to farewell President Murt Kennard. With the Hall overflowing, mourners gathered on the street outside. Bikers stood alongside elderly gentlemen in suits, young children and dogs played on the grass as the Republic's residents gathered to farewell their leader.

CRR (Chief republic Revolter) Murray Gerard Kennard, known to all as Murt, died on Sunday in New Pymouth at the Hospice. He is survived by his wife Marg, two of his four sons and 13 grandchildren "that we know of", the youngest of which is 11 days old.

"Murt did a lot for our town," said celebrant Mark Copplestone, "he put us on the map".

Murt, who was the Republic's fourth president (and second human one), was not one for a big fuss, and the state funeral reflected this, with mourners invited to drink a glass of "chateau cardboard" (Murt's drink of choice) before taking their seats in the hall.

Murt's coffin was carried in through a guard of honour, each holding a flag representing one of his ten years in office. It was then placed in front of his beloved Laverda 1000 motorbike, where it stayed for the service.

My first recollection of Murt was a very hairy face, standing behind the goal posts when Whanga was playing.

celebrant Mark Copplestone

Mark said he found it hard to believe "he has left us a week before the final, that's a shocker".

Murt's brother, Pete Kennard, had mourners laughing as he shared stories from their childhood. Murt was once an altar boy, said Pete, "and he took that to a whole new level," recalling confessions to the priest involving blowing up letterboxes and "the last time I confessed, I lied".

Murt loved his Republic just as much as he hated dentists "or spending money on them, not sure which" said Mark, who recalled many times when a presidential toothache was fixed with a bit of wire or string and a hammer.

Whangamomona local Pork Hutchinson spoke on behalf of the residents, describing their president as "a bloody good bastard, an asset to the district". Pork recalled that Murt and his wife Marg had first visited the Republic in 1989, "and they just kind of forgot to leave".

At the end of the short service, Murt's coffin was carried out through the guard of honour and placed in a horse float for one last trip through the town.

Mourners lined both sides of the street as Murt made one last trip past his loyal and devoted subjects. A 21 gun salute signalled the end of the state funeral, and the start of what promised to be an afternoon (and evening) of food, drink, companionship and many more Murt stories to be shared.

"I don't know if we will have a by-election, we've only just got rid of one president, not sure about the next one," said Mark Copplestone, when asked about the future of the Republic. "We'll find someone, but he has left big boots to fill."

One potential presidential candidate is Michael Self, who has challenged Murt in the past for the title. "He was a wonderfully dishonourable campaigner," said Michael, who has said he will run again should the opportunity arise.

Stratford district council deputy mayor, Alan Jamieson, attended the funeral, and said Stratford District Council would work closely with the republic if need be "during these troubled times".

"The Republic has been under great leadership with Murt," he said, "and his funeral today showed the strong support for the Republic is still present, so we will continue to ensure good diplomatic relations are maintained as they work through the process of electing a new president".

The Republic of Whangamomona was formed in 1989 when residents of the small township on SH43, the "Forgotten World Highway", 65 kilometers north-east of Stratford, objected to a redrawing of regional council boundaries which moved their town out of Taranaki and into the Manawatu-Whanganui Region.