Bagpipes farewell 'storybook nana'

Andrew Morriss and his cousin Lisa grieves at the funeral of family matriarch Mona Morriss in Marton. Picture / Alan Gibson

Mona Morriss was a "storybook nana", say her grandchildren.

She knew every nursery rhyme, always had a cup of tea and a biscuit with her and was always working on her crochet.

When her grandchildren came to stay, she slept in her LazyBoy chair so they could have her bed.

"She had a heart as big as herself," said her youngest son, Wayne Morriss.

A week has passed since the 83-year-old was brutally stabbed in her Marton home.

Yesterday, as police continued the search for her killer, about 300 people at her funeral remembered the sweet little woman, known in the small township as Mrs M or Nana, who centred her life around her family. 

Mrs Morriss' coffin was taken into the Marton Town Hall to the sound of bagpipes, members of the local country music club performed a medley of classics and people gave moving speeches.

Mrs Morriss left school aged about 13 to work on the farm and care for her brothers and sisters.

She had 10 children and 45 grand-and great-grandchildren, who were her life.

Some called her a "cunning old girl" because of the tricks she played through the years on them, others labelled her an "Eveready Battery" because of the speed she walked.

She was a doll-collecting, gardening and handiwork enthusiast. It was granddaughter Kim Henley who described her as "a storybook nana".

Mourners pouring out of the town hall after the service included Garry and Naelene McKenzie, whose daughter Tania was murdered in Wanganui last Friday, her 20th birthday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam, who is leading the inquiry into Ms McKenzie's death, said police were getting a clear picture of what had occurred before her body was found in the Whanganui River at 10.30am on Friday.

After she left work at the Red Lion Inn, she walked up Victoria Ave at 1.37am, went to a takeaway bar in Guyton St at 1.49am and walked up Victoria Ave past Work and Income New Zealand at 2.28am.

Police have established that some time after leaving the Red Lion Inn she returned to her home.

Last night the Wanganui Chronicle reported that police had seized a taxi Ms McKenzie may have travelled in, as well as personal effects from people who knew her, such as rings and mobile phones.

On the inquiry into Mrs Morriss' murder, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Arnerich said police had further sightings of her after she was seen in a supermarket on January 3 - a visit caught on videotape - but he would not elaborate. Police were looking for a sharp weapon and wanted to hear from anyone who had found one.

They were also interested in people who saw Mrs Morriss or others at her Wellington Rd flat around the time she was attacked.