Sir Howard 'could have been Governor General'

Sir Howard Morrison. Photo / Janna Dixon

Sir Howard Morrison was in line to become Governor General of New Zealand, according to billionaire Owen Glenn.

Mr Glenn spoke briefly at the tangi of Sir Howard at Tamatekapua meeting house on the shores of Lake Rotorua today.

He said Sir Howard's name was on a short list of six when the new Governor General was being chosen.

"When the Labour Party was still talking to me, I actually pushed to have Sir Howard on the Governor General list," Mr Glenn told the crowded marae.

He said both parties - Labour and National - chose the Governor General.

"He would have been Governor General but for one person.

"New Zealand's favourite son was never given the opportunity to shine his light at the top of the tree, for that person, shame on you," Mr Glenn said. He did not say who that person was.

Mr Glenn said he met Sir Howard when he was organising an anniversary party.

He said he was trying to book Neil Diamond at the time when his personal assistant recommended Sir Howard.

"Next thing you know, instead of Neil Diamond for a million dollars a night, we had Sir Howard," Mr Glenn said.

TVNZ front man Neil Waka also spoke of Sir Howard. He said Sir Howard was an inspiration to him when he was first breaking into broadcasting.

Mr Waka said he went to Sir Howard for advice when he was organising a radio telethon in his early days and was worried that a colleague was moving in on his patch.

Mr Waka said Sir Howard told him: 'It's the same thing as an entertainer - once you get the mic, you're in charge'. It was so simple so I kept the mic the whole time," Mr Waka said.

The first rays of sunshine have pierced the skies at Ohinemutu as visitors to the marae continue to trickle in this evening.

The rain has persistently fallen for several days, but organisers hope that the weather will have broken by tomorrow, when Sir Howard is buried at nearby Mt Ngongotaha.

Large bouquets of flowers stand next to rows of shoes outside the marae while inside waiata and speeches are given in honour of Sir Howard.

Tonight entertainers will take the stage to pay tribute to Sir Howard.

The line-up includes Nesian Mystic, Frankie Stevens and the Lady Killers as well as members of the reformed Sir Howard Morrison Quartet.

Kapa haka groups from Sir Howard's tribe Te Arawa will also take the stage to honour their patron, Sir Howard.