It was a farewell befitting one of Rotorua's most prominent leaders as hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects to the whānau of Mala Grant, well-known figure in Māori health.
Grant's most recent role was as chief executive of Te Arawa Whānau Ora. Yet despite her impressive career, she was described as a humble, happy-go-lucky woman.
"Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka - the kūmara plant does not talk about its own sweetness," said Te Waata Cribb, Grant's nephew. "I would use that to describe her."
"A very humble lady, loved her family, loved her people. She cared with a great heart for the many people of Te Arawa. Not just the Māori community, but the Pākehā community that she had a lot of time for."
Grant was hugely respected among Māori and Pākehā for her dedication to the health system. Her impact on the lives of many, shown by the numbers of people from across New Zealand - at the tangi to pay their respects.