UPDATE 10.21AM: A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman at Huria Marae in Tauranga overnight.

The man is appearing in Tauranga District Court this morning.

Police were called to the marae at 11.50pm.

The woman suffered injuries to her neck and was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition, Barron said.

She died from her injuries a short time later.

A tangi for respected leader Dr Morehu Ngatoko Rahipere is underway at the marae.

Thousands were expected to attend the farewell, including a representative of Maori King Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki.

A single police officer is standing guard at the rear entrance to Huria Marae's dining room area this morning as people gather at the marae's main entrance to farewell Dr Ngatoko Rahipere.

Some say they understood an assault happened in the dining room area but declined to comment further.