More than 200 people have gathered to pay their respects to the musician Bill Sevesi, at his funeral in Auckland.
RNZI reports the acclaimed ukulele and steel guitar player died late last month at the age of 92.
Children playing ukuleles greeted friends and family of the musician as the service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell began.
Considered by many to be the godfather of the ukulele, Wilfred Jeffs, QSM, was known by his stage name Bill Sevesi.
Born in Tonga, he became a stalwart of Auckland's music scene, leading his band The Islanders in packed dance halls in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. He helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
He was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame last year, and won a Queen's Service Medal in 1995.
Speaking at today's service, former Split Enz member Mike Chunn described Sevesi as a beautiful person.