King Country iwi pay respects to rugby icon

''He managed the Maori team overseas. His support in the rugby union and his support of Maori rugby has been immense.'' Former All Black Arran Pene

All Black legend Sir Colin Meads was farewelled by hundreds of people at a marae service in Te Kuiti.

Meads died on Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer since 2016. He was 81.

Ngati Maniapoto elder and former Labour Party MP Koro Wetere asked that Meads be brought to Te Tokanganui a Noho at Te Kuiti Pa, near the Waitete Rugby Club, for iwi to pay their respects.

The Meads family agreed and on Friday they carried his casket, draped with three feather korowai, on to the marae to a haka powhiri and karanga and a guard of honour.

Students from nine schools around the King Country joined in the welcome, including Otorohanga College, Aria School and Piopio College.

Former All Blacks Arran Pene and Stu Forster also attended, along with the Meads family.

The casket was placed on a mat on the ground in front of the meeting house before being taken to the porch for speeches. Meads lay in state until 1pm. The three korowai draping the casket - named Tuheka, Tu Tangata and Manaakitanga belong to the Te Kanawa whanau. They were made by Dame Rangimarie Hetet and her daughter Diggeress Te Kanawa.

Kahutoi Te Kanawa said three of her mother and grandmother’s korowai were needed to cover Meads’ casket from head to toe.

The Te Kanawa whanau paid their respects with the korowai because they have a long association with the Meads family, having attended school together and lived together in the same community.

‘‘I think the Meads whanau, because of him, have had an association with lots of families, but for us, it was appropriate to do that.’’

Former All Black Arran Pene said Meads demanded excellence on and off the field.

‘‘He was the ultimate example of how we played on the field, but also how we behaved off the field.

‘‘He was a very proud All Black and his standards were very high.’’

Meads had as big an influence on Maori rugby, he said. He credited him with saving the New Zealand Maori team from being axed in the 1990s.

‘‘He managed the Maori team overseas. His support in the rugby union and his support of Maori rugby has been immense,’’ Pene said.

Pene played rugby in Otago where the Colin Meads Fan Club originated.

‘‘He got rung up at 3am all the time and he always answered the phone and I think those relationships were still very strong until his passing.’’

King Country rugby centurion and son-in-law Paul Mitchell said Meads would always be remembered for his rugby, but was also a man of the community.

‘‘He was always available in whatever he did and he always supported us. Me, being a son-inlaw, it made it a bit more difficult with Glynn (Meads). When we thought we had a good game, he brought us back to reality occasionally,’’ Mitchell said.

Meads’ funeral service will be on Monday in Te Kuiti at the Les Munro Centre, where big screens will be set up outside to cater to the masses expected to attend.

‘‘Te Kuiti is going to get a fright on Monday, I think.

‘‘There has been speculation of 4000,’’ Mitchell said.

‘‘He’s always been a people’s man. It’s going to be sad, but the feelings are that what he’s done for New Zealand and the world - and with that statue now - he will never leave Te Kuiti.’’