'Lucky' knight farewells another

Sir Michael Fay (centre) at the tangi yesterday. Photo / Alan Gibson

One of entrepreneur Sir Michael Fay's favourite memories of his old friend Sir Howard Morrison was how the entertainer would often call him "the lucky Pakeha".

Now one of New Zealand's richest men, Sir Michael did it tough as a student working in remote Tuhoe country - something that always amused Sir Howard, who grew up nearby.

"He used to pull my leg a fair bit because he came from this part of the world and as a student I worked at Murupara and lived in a single men's camp which was a pretty tough place to make your money," said Sir Michael.

"He constantly reminded me that I was a very lucky Pakeha and if I could survive working in the Kaingaroa Forest then I'd be okay later on."

Sir Michael was among the hundreds who poured on to Te Papaiouru marae in Rotorua yesterday to pay their respects to Sir Howard, who died at his home on Thursday.

After speaking to the bereaved family and Te Arawa elders in the Tamatekapua meeting house, Sir Michael broke into a respectable version of What a Wonderful World with the help of a couple of his friends.

He later said the singer was a key part of New Zealand's challenges for the America's Cup in Fremantle and later in San Diego, helping to establish a presence for the New Zealanders, and enjoyed himself doing so.

Among his great privileges in life was to be selected for a knighthood alongside Sir Howard and SirRichard Hadlee in 1990, he said.

"Richard and I said we didn't necessarily shape up very well ... it was good that Howard always looked distinguished."

Meanwhile, Maori warden co-ordinator Claire Matthews and her 21 staff are expecting even greater crowds than the 1200 who were there for the first day of Sir Howard's tangi.

Ms Matthews believes "about 5000 people" could be at the marae on Tuesday before the singer is buried at Kauae cemetery.

"That sounds like a lot of people but we have had tangi that big here and are used to it," she said.

Sir Howard's cousin and whanau spokesman Monty Morrison said arrangements were still being decided although the Maori King, Tuheitia, is expected at the marae on Monday.

He will be followed by figures in the entertainment industry later that day.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Labour leader Phil Goff are expected to be at Sir Howard's tangi on Tuesday.

The Bay of Plenty Steamers are to wear black armbands to mark Sir Howard's passing when they play Otago at Carisbrook tonight.