Thousands gather to farewell Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu's wife Nadene and children Dhyreille and Brayley wearing their Lomu All Black jerseys. Photo / Doug Sherring
Jonah Lomu's wife Nadene and children Dhyreille and Brayley wearing their Lomu All Black jerseys. Photo / Doug Sherring

Tributes are flowing for Jonah Lomu as thousands have gathered in South Auckland to farewell the former All Black great.

Govenor general Sir Jerry Mateparae said today was a solemn occasion but also a celebration.

"And Jonah's life is worth celebrating," he said.

Sir Jerry said Jonah would be remembered for his rugby prowess but also for his kindness and humility.

He was strong despite being dealt tough cards, he said.

"He impressed us with his courage, his humility, his grace under pressure ...his determination to use his influence and his mana for the benefit of others was exemplary.

"A great Totara has been cut down. And we will not see the likes of him again."

Nadene Lomu's father, Mervyn Quirk, paid tribute to the man he loved as a son.

He said Lomu and his loved wife and sons would be reunited one day.

"This is a time of great sorrow, having lost a dear son.

"Jonah graced the rugby fields of the world and that's when I'm sure many of us got to know this young man and wished to know him more, because of the joy and pleasure that he brought to all who saw him play.

"His faith and his hope was that they (him and his family) could be together in the eternities."

'South-side heart' 

Voice cracking, Auckland Mayor Len Brown spoke of his sorrow for the family and the loss New Zealand has seen with Lomu's death.

Lomu had a "south-side heart", Mr Brown said.

"He loved this place. I met him first here, we all knew of him first here...we listened to all the early stories coming coming through from Wesley. There was something special coming out of that school."

Mr Brown said Lomu was a "great king" and an "extraordinary man". 

A Tongan community leader said Lomu was a wonderful son and a great sportsman.

He spoke of Lomu's ancestors who excelled in sport and made him the man he was.

"Such is the legacy. Such is the heritage that has been combined in this wonderful, gentle, loving giant.

"Life too short but what matters is [not] how long you live your life...what really matters is what you do with your life.

"My heart is full," he said.

Warriors player Manu Vatuvei - whose nickname on the field is "the Beast - said Lomu was a special man.

He said Lomu was a true beast on the field but a humble gentleman off it.

"When he played on the field he was a beast and no one could stop him but when he was off the field he was a gentle giant," he said.

"To Jonah's mum, thanks you for developing a lovely man. A person that had a lot of heart."

He said the Warriors were amazed when Lomu came to visit their trainings, twice since Vatuvei has been in the team.

He offered a gift to the Lomu family from the Warriors and expressed support from the whole team.

The Jonah Lomu 'Aho Faka Famili - Day of the Family - started at 12pm.

Pasifika communities will pay traditional tributes to Lomu during the event, and they have been arriving in droves, some dressed in black with ta'ovala.

There are also flecks of purple seen in the crowd, the traditional Tongan colour of mourning.

Some of the few people not in traditional Pasifika dress are wearing All Blacks jerseys with number 11 on the back.

A Pasifika community group arrived wearing black with black and white mats around their waists.

Following them was former All Black captain Tana Umaga.

Former All Black and fellow kidney disease sufferer Joeli Vidiri and All Black hooker Keven Mealamu had also arrived at the centre.

They joined Michael Jones, Dylan Mika and Eric Rush, who arrived earlier.

Pallbearers carry the casket of Jonah Lomu. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Pallbearers carry the casket of Jonah Lomu. Photo / Jason Oxenham
 

When Lomu's coffin arrived at the Vodafone Events Centre, it was welcomed by a karanga and rousing haka, as emotions ran high inside the packed room.

The coffin was placed on a raised platform in front of the waiting masses.

It was draped in a traditional cloth or mat and was surrounded by family members. They bowed their heads.

The national anthem was sung by two boys and a girl, along with a guitar accompaniment, as the crowds stood.

A karakia followed, ending with Ake Ake Amine, before the crowd of a couple of hundred people inside the auditorium sat again.

Some younger Lomu family members sat on a mat in front of the coffin, as welcomes and a tribute were spoken in Maori.

E pa to hau, a famous tangi waiata, was sung as lights focused on the coffin, making it the point of focus in the darkened auditorium.

Lomu's wife Nadene sat in the front row with her head bowed. Their two sons - Dhyreille and Brayley - were on either side of her.

Photos of Lomu smiling with his friends and family, playing rugby, signing gear for fans and with his wife Nadene were displayed on large screens as instrumental music played.

Mana Whenua, Mr Brown and Sir Jerry lined up to pay their respects to Nadene and the two boys before leaving the auditorium.

Former All Black Michael Jones told NZME Nadene's face said it all when Sir Jerry spoke with her during the ceremony.

"Having two minutes talking with her is a taonga."

Today's event was an "intimate and beautiful part of the mourning and the healing".

A day for the family is "what we do, it's just that it's usually in a garage or living room".

"We're just so grateful that council has recognised we needed a big space."

The day was first for Nadene and the boys, Jones said.

"The whole focus is for them, and then for the rest of the community to have an opportunity to come and show support.

"This us what we always do, we just needed a bigger house ... it's going to lift the heart. Our hearts are warm today because unless you go through this part of the process it's harder to move forward. It's for her, but it's also for us."

Lomu was a "giant of a man, giant of the rugby world and a giant of a husband and father."

A guitar played as room was made for community groups to pay their respects.

Lomu's sons - both kitted out in All Blacks number 11 jerseys - stayed near their mother, with one sitting on Nadene's lap at the front of the room, next to the coffin.

The mood relaxed slightly as people sang along to the Pasifika acoustic tunes, but a sombre atmosphere remains.

Former All Black captain and Lomu teammate Tana Umaga said it was important to be in South Auckland, the heart of Lomu's community.

"We come to pay our respects in the area and with the people he grew up with.

"People are coming together to pay respect to our man. He obviously touched a lot of people."

Councillor Alf Filipaina, who grew up in South Auckland, said the whole community was mourning.

He said he and his brother Olsen Filipaina, a former rugby league player who represented New Zealand and Western Samoa, cried when they herd the news of Lomu's death.

"When Jonah passed away I rang Olsen and he cried.

"This is me standing here but please imagine quite a few people behind me to acknowledge Jonah's passing but also the love that I bring with me."

Meanwhile, a Samoan elder spoke in response to a gift given by the former Samoan players.

About 12 pupils from South Auckland charter school Pacific Advance Senior School, run by a trust led by Jones, arrived wearing blue dresses.

Three Warriors players, in traditional dress, then moved forward to pay their respects.

Warriors player Manu Vatuvei - whose nickname on the field is "the beast" - said Lomu was a special man.

He said Lomu was a true beast on the field, but a humble gentleman off it.

"When he played on the field he was a beast and no one could stop him but when he was off the field he was a gentle giant," he said.

"To Jonah's mum, thanks you for developing a lovely man. A person that had a lot of heart."

He said the Warriors were amazed when Lomu came to visit their training sessions - twice since Vatuvei has been in the team.

He offered a gift to the Lomu family from the Warriors and expressed support from the whole team.

Vidiri said he wanted to mourn and celebrate his former teammate, and support the family, especially Lomu's mother, Hepi.

"She was like a mother to me. I'm here to say my respects to a brother.

"I'm very sad that at 40 he's leaving us."

- By Lauren Priestley of NZME News Service and Cherie Howie of the Herald of Sunday 

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