Herbs singer and guitarist Willie Hona has died from cancer.
His death was confirmed in a Facebook post from his daughter Natalie Hona on Monday morning.
"He Aitua. He Aitua. Today, we mourn the passing of my Dad Wiremu (Willie) Hona, who passed away last night surrounded by his loving whanau in Paraparaumu," she wrote.
"Dad will be taken back to his dad's marae: Te Piiti. Omanaia South Hokianga on Tuesday 7 May 2024. On Wednesday we will travel to Pa Te Aroha Marae Whirinaki, where he will lay for the duration of his huimàte.
"Ra nehu (burial day) will be confirmed in Whirinaki. TBC Friday 10th May."
Hona had appeared on singles such as top ten songs 'Slice of Heaven' and 'Sensitive to a Smile'.
He was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2012 as part of the Herbs.
Within hours of Hona's death being announced, a fake Facebook post had been set up trying to scam friends and family of Hona.
"Aroha mai and Rest In Power & Music to an absolute legend," the poster who had found the page wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to his cancer journey.
"There has been a page that has appeared, which I believe to be a fake account wanting to hack into Willie’s Facebook contacts this way. Correct me if I'm wrong, but these pages seem to be popping up after friends and whānau have passed recently and are in no way connected to the departed. Best to decline such requests."
