A powerful haka echoed at a Tauranga funeral home yesterday as whānau pani prepared to return their beloved Sean Wainui home to the east coast.
Whānau and rugby friends conducted Tika Tonu moments before departing for Mangatu Marae near Gisborne.
The heart breaking video shared by Sean's wife Paige to her instagram shows her comforting their two tamariki as they watch the emotional tribute.
"This pain in unbearable. Kei te hoki koe ki tō whenua taurikura my baby māku koe e arahi. I know your waiting for us. We're on our way to gizzy bringing you home now baby." She wrote in a post.
The 25 year old Māori All Black and Chief died on Monday in a crash at Omanawa Falls near Tauranga.
To tautoko the whānau, the Chiefs set up a Givealittle page which has raised more than $184,000 dollars.
The tangihanga will be held at Mangatū Marae.
Sean's wider whānau have made their way from across the country to help prepare the marae and wharekai for his tangihanga.
Ko te aunga o te moe ki a koe e te rangatira. Kaore noa i piko te tuarā. Kaore anō ngā turi kia huri ki muri i ngā taringa. Ko koe rā tēnei ka riro kaweka nei.
Kia whakataukītia ake te mamae, auē, te moumou e.