Former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall said Mr Gordhan was a great identity around Rotorua for a long time and they had a lot to do with each other in business and in the community through the Rotary organisation.
"He was always a great advocate for Rotorua and loved our city. He had a wicked sense of humour and was a wonderful character in his own right and will be sadly missed.
"His frequent trips back to India were a highlight for him and he worked really hard over there as a volunteer for the betterment of his own people," Mr Hall said.
His daughter, Mina, said he was a colourful man who reached out to others.
"He was very generous and helped to raise funds for hospitals and eye clinics in India and sponsored a lot of people to come to New Zealand."
His interests were many - he cut hair, played the harmonium, learned basic te reo Maori and did a welding course.
He was known by his close friends and family as "Mr Fix-It".
"He called himself a jack of all trades and always carried tools with him wherever he went, even overseas," Mina said. "There wasn't anything he couldn't turn his hand to."
His family said he was also a deeply spiritual man and loved his herbal remedies.
"He wasn't really into Western medicine and was always finding natural ways for people to heal themselves."
In his later years he and wife Kalavati spent a lot of time back in India, sometimes staying three to six months.
"He loved India and ran a taxi service for people just to be social, not for the income," Mina said.
Mr Gordhan was a great salesman, his family saying they were sure he was one of the first people to bring in the concept of "buy one, get one free".
He was also a practical joker and keen storyteller.
"He had a great work ethic and told us nothing was impossible and the only limitations were in your mind," Mina said.
"He very much admired [Mahatma] Gandhi and loved wearing the traditional Indian clothes."
Mr Gordhan is survived by his wife Kalavati and his children Susie, Mina, Mahesh, Mukesh and Rajesh.
He had nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral service for Mr Gordhan will be held at the Distinction Hotel today from 1pm.