The family of Dr Ranginui Walker have agreed to a request from his iwi, Te Whakatōhea, to return some of his ashes home.
The remains of Dr Ranginui Walker are to be cremated after his funeral service on Friday morning.
While the tribe initially wanted Dr Walker’s body to be returned to the East Coast for burial, they are happy to abide with his request for his body to remain here in Auckland.
Iwi spokesman Te Kahautu Maxwell says that Dr Walker was no ordinary man, he refused knighthood, he refused settlement from the Crown, he refused to go home and he refused to be buried.
Meanwhile his three day funeral is about to begin at Ōrākei Marae. Ngāti Whātua is preparing to welcome the body, his family and members of Te Whakatōhea.
Māori Television are livestreaming events on www.maoritelevision.com