Slain Gisborne resident Amandeep Singh has begun his final journey home to India, where his mother is critically ill in hospital after refusing to eat since the apparent murder of her son.
Mr Singh's remains were taken from Gisborne Hospital to South Auckland Funeral Services in Otahuhu last week.
His cousin, Atma Sidhu, said a small funeral service was planned for yesterday in the Manukau Memorial Gardens.
"Amandeep's wife Sabrina and her sister-in-law are going to attend, along with myself and a few other friends and family members," he said.
"We will then have Amandeep cremated, and I will take his ashes back to his family in India," Mr Sidhu said.