A funeral for Sir Colin Meads in Te Kuiti next week is expected to attract up to 4000 people.

Waitomo Mayor, Brian Hanna said the farewell will be held at the Les Munro Centre on Monday.

He said he's meeting with members of the Meads family and NZRU today, to finalise details.

"We wan to make it a send of appropriate for the statue of the man, you know it could be up to 3000 or 4000."

Members of the Te Kuiti community are paying tribute to Sir Meads, laying flowers at the newly erected statue of the All Black legend.

Hanna was at the statue unveiling just two months ago, and remembers the day fondly He told Mike Hosking Sir Colin was clearly ill at the time, but he battled through.

"It was jut so special to see the look on his face when he saw the stature because when I first raised it with him he said, oh for goodness sake Brian who is going to come and see it." 

LISTEN ABOVE AS BRIAN HANNA SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING