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National | Jonah Lomu

Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei honour Lomu in public ceremony

Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei led the public memorial ceremony as mana whenua for Te Anawai, or Eden Park, which was attended by over 5000 people and thousands more who tuned in live via television or online.

The ceremony gave the public a final opportunity to collectively grieve the loss of our legend, Jonah Tali Lomu, and bid him farewell before his private funeral in Manukau.

While the stadium was full of people of different cultures from all over the world, heartfelt haka were performed not only by mana whenua, but also his former school peers, his former school, his friends, past and present All Blacks, NZ Warriors and more.

His former primary school, Favona Road Primary, performed a tribute song and dance for their idol.

Lomu's favourite South Auckland bands, Adeaze and Ardijah, also performed special renditions of songs in his honour, and the closing hymn, Whakaaria Mai, sung by Lizzy Marvelly.

Here are some of the highlights of the coverage from Eden Park.

Raniera Harrison was at Eden Park before and during the public ceremony.  Below is his report:

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