Members of Collins' former rugby club Porirua Norths were present along with his 1-year-old daughter Ayla and his partner Alana Madill's family.
The former All Black and his partner died in June 5 last year after their car veered suddenly to the left, crashing into the median barrier and bounced back into the middle of a motorway, near Montpellier in France.
Collins, who played 48 tests for the All Blacks, was signed with French team Racing Club Narbonne at the time.
A memorial lunch was held at Porirua park, now officially named the Jerry Collins stadium.
Collins' manager and the family's spokesman Tim Castle spoke at the club, reminiscing the love the former All Black had for his partner Alana.
"They were in love, lovely to share the unveiling on them...a beautiful photo," he said.
He said while the former All Black played in Japan, Wales and France, he "never forgot his home and his family" back home.
Alana's father Darrell Madill said it was an honour to be in New Zealand.
"We came here for very special reasons, the primary reasons is to bring Ayla to the homeland of her father."
"Let her see first hand the community that helped shape Jerry."
"Ayla is the bond between our family," he said.
"This is a very important part of her life.
"Secondly, we wanted to make sure we could reunite Alana with Jerry, it's something Alana would want," he said.
He also gave special thanks to Jerry's family.
He said ever since the family arrived in New Zealand, they received a lot of love from everyone.
Jerry's father Frank Collins briefly spoke.
He thanked visitors, including Jerry's friends and Alana's family who came from overseas.
"To the Canada family, thank you for bringing Ayla home," he said.
Earlier hundreds gathered at Porirua's Whenua Tapu Cemetery as his headstone was unveiled.
French officials investigating the death of Collins believed Madill fell asleep at the wheel moments before the crash.
Their daughter Ayla, then 10 weeks old, battled her way back to health from critical head injuries sustained in the accident.
Ayla, recently turned 1, has been in the care of Ms Madill's parents, Darrell and Ruth Madill, since she was discharged from a French hospital four weeks after the crash.
Doctors have previously warned Ayla was likely to have ongoing disabilities as a result of her head trauma, although the full extent would not be known until she was older.
But Darrell Madill previously said his youngest grandchild was improving every day.
