Sir Howard, one of the New Zealand's best known entertainers, died peacefully in his bed at his Ohinemutu home on the shores of Lake Rotorua yesterday. He was 74.
He lay at his home last night and this morning is to be carried the few metres to Tamatekapua, the premier meeting house of Te Arawa, where his public tangi starts about 10am.
Sir Howard will be buried alongside members of his whanau at Rotorua's Kauae Cemetery on Tuesday after the 11am service.
Family spokesman and acclaimed actor Temuera Morrison said his uncle's farewell would be a "huge celebration of a great life".
The last surviving member of the Howard Morrison Quartet, Wi Wharekura, Maori King Tuheitia Paki and dignitaries from across all walks of New Zealand life were expected to attend the funeral.
Wharekura told NZPA yesterday he was struggling to come to terms with Sir Howard's death.
Wharekura planned to fly from Australia, where he now lives, to Rotorua tomorrow to attend Sir Howard's tangi and funeral.
Speaking from the Gold Coast, Wharekura said he had spent the early part of the day banging his head against a wall as he tried to comprehend the news.
"I am totally and utterly devastated," he told NZPA.
He and Sir Howard had met in the fifth form at Rotorua High School, later to become Rotorua Boys High School.
A group which included original quartet members and their extended whanau had, at the young Sir Howard's urging, sung at the Rotorua Soundshell Talent Quest and won.
"That was 1956, we sang as a group and it just snowballed."
Sir Howard's brother Laurie was also involved in the early days, but when guitarist Gerry Merito joined Sir Howard, Kingi and Wharekura, the most famous run of the quartet occurred.
Their hits included Hoki Mai, My Old Man's A Dustman, The Battle of the Waikato and Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Wharekura said he was grateful for the opportunities Sir Howard and the quartet had given him.
"He made something out of me. When he was knighted he became a legend. I have always been on his coat-tails, whether I wanted to be or not," he said.
"We were not only professional artists, we were the dearest of family friends."
Sir Howard had died peacefully, Temuera Morrison said.
`He's got a little smile on his face."
As well as having a beautiful voice Sir Howard always had an element of cheek about him, Temuera Morrison said.
He liked to `sus' people out to see where they were coming from.
"He was very charismatic, performing everywhere. He had a remarkable following and the special gift of feeling an audience as he worked his way to his crescendo."
Among the first to pay tribute and extend condolences was Dame Malvina Major with whom Sir Howard had frequently sung and toured.
They toured the country with their show A Knight And A Dame in 2005.
She said she had a special friendship with him.
"I told him when I first toured with him that I wanted to be the fifth member of the quartet, because I loved the music," she told TV One.
Sir Howard's family were aware of the number of heartfelt tributes pouring on to websites in recognition of his great talent.
"They are very touched. It is very warming, very heartening," cousin Monty Morrison said.
Mourning also extended to the tourism sector, which said it has lost a great ambassador.
Sir Howard was a member of the New Zealand Tourism Board in the late 1990s and an active promoter of Maori culture both in New Zealand and offshore.
"Sir Howard's fine voice helped to raise awareness of Maori culture, which is so closely aligned with New Zealand's identity and such an integral part of the tourism industry," said Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton.
