Bay of Plenty Rugby great and former Māori All Black Manukapua ‘Manu' Maniapoto died peacefully at his home surrounded by whānau in Rotorua on Tuesday.

He was 81-years-old.

Born in Mokai near Taupō on June 29, 1935, Manukapua started playing senior rugby in Turangi at age 11 and will will forever be remembered as the Bay of Plenty's first centurion.

He was a staunch Whakarewarewa man, laying for the club from 1955 to 1969, before going on to represent the Bay from 1960 to 1968 and all would play 107 games for the region.

Manukapua also represented the New Zealand Māori from 1960 to 1966.

Paying his respects, Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Mike Rogers describes Manukapua as a great stalwart of Bay rugby and a humble giant who had a formidable rugby career.

'Everyone you talk to holds Manu in high regards, and his selection in the union's ‘Team of the Century' is a true testament of his ability and status in our community.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with his whānau at this time of sadness.”

Manukapua's body was taken to Waitetoko Marae on the southern shores of Lake Taupō in the little settlement of Te Rangiita, just north of Turangi on Tuesday afternoon.

His tangi and burial takes place on Thursday.

Kua hinga te tōtara o te wao nui o Tāne Mahuta - The tōtara in the great forest of Tāne has fallen.