Taupiri Mountain will on Thursday receive a man who laid many of the foundations for the modern Tainui iwi.
Waatea News reports hundreds of people have flowed through the gates of Hukanui marae in Gordonton this week to pay tribute to Haare Puke, who died on Saturday.
As chair of the Tainui Maori Trust Board, Mr Puke was part of the team that secured the tribe's $170 million raupatu settlement.
Tainui kaumatua Tui Adams says he made an immeasurable contribution not just to the iwi, but to other organisations like the Hamilton City Council, Wintec and Waikato University.
He said Mr Puke will be sorely missed, but will never be forgotten.
No reira, e te taumata okiokinga, tenei ra keo te okioki mutunga kore mai ra, haere, haere, haere.
