For the first time since Sir Howard Morrison's death on Thursday, rain stopped pounding Rotorua yesterday.

The on-going downpour, seen by Maoridom as a sign that a great man has passed, has not deterred thousands of mourners, some who have had to wait up to two hours to be welcomed.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was among those who paid tribute yesterday morning, while in the afternoon it was the turn of church leaders from across the denominations.

An Anglican and regular member of the congregation at St Faith's Church opposite Tamatekapua meeting house where his body lay in state, Sir Howard was a long-time advocate of church unity.

He made frequent reference to the fact that while half his whanau were Protestants the other half were Catholics. The scenario is the same for the majority of Ohinemutu residents and dates back to missionary days.

The story is told that with both Anglican and Catholic church representatives arriving in the village at the same time a line was drawn in the ground. Each Maori present was instructed to stand on alternate sides, thus they were divvied up between the faiths.

After a public ecumenical service for Sir Howard on Papa-i-ouru marae in front of Tamatekapua on Tuesday, his casket was taken to St Faith's for a brief period of prayer. Attendance was restricted to whanau and invited guests.

He was then taken to Kauae Cemetery on the slopes of Mt Ngongotaha to be buried with his forebears and recently deceased family members.