Sir Colin, who in 1999 was named New Zealand's greatest rugby player of the 20th Century, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. The former lock died in hospital in his home town of Te Kuiti on August 20. He was 81.
Sir Colin was renowned for his toughness in a lengthy international playing career that spanned 14 years. He played 133 games for the All Blacks and even if only 55 of them were tests, that was still a record for the national team.
The rangy lock came to epitomise the stereotypical All Blacks forward with his no nonsense attitude but was lauded for his pace and ball handling skills rarely seen in tight forwards of the time.
The small town of Te Kuiti in the King Country in the centre of the North Island came to a virtual standstill for the funeral, with politicians, former All Blacks and administrators flocking to pay their respects.
Several hundred mourners packed into the community's Les Munro Centre, with a large marquee set up across the road to accommodate the overflow of roughly 3000 people in attendance.
Prime Minister Bill English and leader of the main opposition Labour Party Jacinda Ardern temporarily suspended their election campaigns to attend.
Mr English did not speak at the funeral but said he had attended to pay respects for what Sir Colin had done for New Zealand.
"He represented something very special about being a Kiwi," Mr English said in a statement before the service.
The coffin arrived at the service in a hearse decorated with a specialised "Pine T" licence plate, a nod to the moniker he preferred to be known by even after he received a knighthood.
Stan Meads said that while his older brother had always been physically strong, tough mentally and ultra competitive from a young age, he would faint at the sight of blood.
"He recognised that if he wanted to go far in rugby then he better sort it out," he said to laughter from the crowd.
CHAMPION FOR PROVINCIAL GAME
Their parents had tried to encourage them to read books as children, but he refused to do so, so their mother had taught Colin to knit to keep him occupied, he added.
"Yep, Pinetree used to knit. He knitted a jersey and a balaclava," he said, again to much laughter.
An emotional Sir Brian Lochore, whose career was intertwined with Sir Colin's, said New Zealand had lost a champion for provincial rugby in the country.
The country's amateur provincial competition teams, made up of mostly rural provinces, play for the Meads and Lochore Cups.
"Nobody has done more for New Zealand rugby than Colin," said the fellow All Blacks great. "I've lost a friend. New Zealand has lost an icon.
"He was the player of the century and I don't think anyone would argue with that.
"He was incredibly strong and mobile for a man of his size. He was ahead of his time. No forward until that point had ever run as well as Pinetree. He would be great in the modern era."
While Meads was recognised for what he contributed to the All Blacks legacy and global rugby, speakers also touched on his community work and his devotion to his family. All five of his children and 12 of his 14 grandchildren attended the funeral.
"We have shared Dad with New Zealand and the rugby world," his youngest daughter Shelley Mitchell said.
"None more so than this week where we have seen the outpouring of love and tributes and that has helped us get through this week.
"After hearing all that, it has been an honour of sharing him with you... thank you for loving our Dad."
Over the past week since losing Sir Colin lost his battle with cancer, the Meads family has been generous in sharing him with the community.
Sir Colin's coffin made stops at the Te Kuiti Pa and spent Sunday being toasted at the Waitete Rugby Club.
Two local women, Jan Ngatai (78) and Waikura Jacobs (72), arrived at the marquee at 9am on Monday morning - four hours before the funeral is due to start to ensure they would get a seat.
Rain fell heavily overnight and Ms Jacobs said that was Sir Colin shedding his tears, allowing the sun to shine through for his farewell.
"We're so lucky we had him at our Pa," she said. "We were honoured the family let us have him. It was a beautiful time. He would always go out of his way."
Ms Ngatai, the aunty of All Black and Chiefs midfielder Charlie, first met Sir Colin when her husband worked as a shearer on the farm.
"We used to go to the old club in Waitete years ago. He didn't like to be addressed as Sir - just Pinetree or Colin. He's a big loss. He was a good, humble man."
- Reuters and NZ Herald
