Seagulls' cries pierced the skies over Putiki Marae as the casket of Whanganui rangatira Manukawhaki Mete-Kingi prepared to leave Te Paku ote Rangi wharepuni.
The Mau Rakau was performed to Mr Mete-Kingi as he was carried from the marae.
Mourners gathered at the riverside marae for the final farewell to Mr Mete-Kingi,
who died in Wanganui on Tuesday. A frost covered the grass and the morning was cool, but the sun reached areas of the marae not in shadow from the pohutukawa.
The cortege left Putiki Marae for a service at St Paul's Anglican Church, then Mr Mete-Kingi was laid at his final resting place in the Putiki urupa (cemetery).
On Mr Mete-Kingi's funeral sheet was a photo of him standing before Dornie Castle, in Scotland.
He was very proud of his strong Celtic roots; his grandmother was a full Scotswoman, which qualified him to be a member of the New Zealand Scottish regiment, the Black Watch.
Mr Mete-Kingi was a guide, mentor and friend on council matters in dealing with difficult Maori issues, said Wanganui District councillor Don McGregor, and had developed a special bond with former Mayor Chas Poynter.
"Manu upheld the honour and mana of his Mete-Kingi ancestors and he always worked for Wanganui as a whole ? he was a wonderful bridge between Pakeha, Maori and the council.
"We will miss him dreadfully, and his wonderful sense of humour."
