Representatives from nearly every iwi in the country have arrived in Tolaga Bay for the funeral of long-serving Labour MP, Parekura Horomia.
His body is lying at Hauiti Marae, north of Gisborne.
Almost every tribe from every region is attending the tangi, including Ngapuhi, Waikato-Tainui, Te Arawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Toa, Taranaki and the South Island iwi Ngai Tahu.
Politicians have also walked on to Hauiti Marae to pay tribute, including Prime Minister John Key.
Many thousands of mourners are expected at the funeral service for Mr Horomia, which will begin at about 10am on Saturday when the Reverend Henare Kirikiri will conduct the opening karakia.
Marae spokesperson Wayne Ngata says up to 300 volunteers have been helping to cater for the multitude of visitors who have been gathering at Hauiti Marae to remember Mr Horomia since the tangi began on Wednesday.
He says army personnel are also helping with the cooking.
Mr Ngata says the funeral service will be a mixture of entertainment and prayer.
He says mourners will then walk Mr Horomia to the nearby Kohimarama urupa, or cemetery, for the burial.
