The tangihanga for Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is currently underway at Tūrangawaewae Marae, in Ngāruawāhia.
Here’s what you need to know so far:
The event will take place over seven days and thousands of people are expected to attend each day.
The first two days – Friday and Saturday – have been set aside for Waikato Tainui uri (descendants) to pay their respects to the monarch.
The first pōwhiri is expected to take place at Tūrangawaewae Marae at 2pm. It will be the first time people from outside of the whānau pani will be able to pay their respects to the king.
There will be two pōwhiri every day, one at 8am and another at 2pm.
From Sunday onwards, delegations from across the motu and Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa will start to arrive, as well as dignitaries from overseas.
Some iwi have already indicated on social media when they will be arriving, including Ngāpuhi on Monday, Te Tairāwhiti whānui and Te Whānau a Apanui on Tuesday morning.
On Thursday the king will be taken to Taupiri maunga to his final resting place.
Glossary
tangihanga – funeral
uri – descendants
whānau pani – immediate and close family of the deceased in mourning
motu – country
Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa – the Pacific Ocean
whānui – wide
maunga – mountain