Silence blanketed the hundreds of mourners gathered at Te Papaiouru Marae as Maori warriors led Pihopa Kingi's coffin through the crowd.
It was then the mighty loss of the great rangatira was realised.
At such occasions, it would normally be Kingi waiting in his dignified manner clutching his tokotoko (Maoriwalking stick) to speak on behalf of the tribe.
Those paying tribute to the great Ngati Whakaue leader described him as "everything" - a gentleman, a mentor, a fountain of knowledge, a guiding light and a taonga (treasure).
Kingi's body arrived at Te Arawa's paramount marae in Rotorua at 9am today as mourners performed a rousing haka to welcome Kingi to his home marae.
His body was led on by warriors as people from all walks of life, including Maori and Pakeha worlds, paid their respects.
Pihopa Kingi's body arrives at Te Papaiouru Marae this morning. Photo/Stephen Parker
Kingi died on Tuesday at the age of 88. Until this morning, his body had been at his family home, metres from the marae in the historic Ohinemutu village.
Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post at the tangi this morning, Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust chairman Malcolm Short said Kingi was a "guiding light" who stressed upon those involved in Ngati Whakaue's financial arm the need to do well in business and provide benefits to the people.
He said Kingi spent time telling them if they upskilled and became good business people, they could provide benefits to the tribe and uplift the people.
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"He stressed upon us that we needed to educate ourselves and do that in business and produce the results so that we had a machine, Pukeroa, that could provide for whanau and the tribe. His legacy is coming true. I'm very proud of that."
Reverend Bob Schuster told the Rotorua Daily Post Kingi was "everything".
"He meant so much not just to the tribe but to the whole of Rotorua. He was able to do deals with the Rotorua city council over things that should have been passed. He was everything, he was a gentleman and could converse with anybody at all.
"He was way up there as far as I was concerned, a real rangatira. He's a real big loss to Te Arawa, a mighty big loss and I just hope we get somebody else to take his place."
Ngati Whakaue orator Kingi Biddle said Kingi was a mentor and a fountain of knowledge.
"The thing about him was he was so giving and loving and caring and had a heart for all the people. It was so easy to sit with him and talk so we are going to really miss him."
Entertainer and author Bea Yates said Kingi was a taonga (treasure) to everyone.
"Pihopa was my whanaungatanga. So special, a taonga to all of us. He shared his knowledge, his love and his whole ahuatanga was just so kind and gentle, respectful. We are going to miss him so much because he had so much knowledge to tell us."
The adored kaumatua had been in hospital after suffering a cancer relapse and lost his battle surrounded by family.
Kingi was considered one of the great Te Arawa leaders of his generation and has twice been acknowledged for his contribution to his people, being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 1999 then a decade later becoming a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO).
Ngati Whakaue rangatira Pihopa Kingi is being brought on to Te Papaiouru Marae at Ohinemutu.
It was fitting that both honours were double celebrations as he was acknowledged with his beloved wife, Maori health leader Inez Kingi, who was also bestowed the same honours in the same years.
Kingi is survived by his wife of 62 years. She is now a resident at The Care Village at Ngongotaha having suffered from dementia for several years.
Kingi's tangi will continue inside Tamatekapua Meeting House until his funeral service on Sunday at 11am.
