Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is visiting Tūrangawaewae Marae today as Kīngi Tuheitia’s tangihanga continues.
The Māori King died in the early hours of yesterday morning. He had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery.
Thousands are expected to visit the marae in Ngāruawāhia to pay their respects to the late monarch over the coming days.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that he planned to attend, acknowledging Kīngi Tuheitia’s legacy.
He arrived at about 2pm this afternoon, walking onto the marae alongside his wife Amanda. A pōwhiri welcomed Luxon and others.
The Prime Minister went to where Kīngi Tuheitia is lying in state. There, he removed his hat and bowed his head.
Luxon appeared to tear up as he gave a speech shortly before 2.30pm.
Facing where the Māori King is lying in state, he said in a shaky voice: “Kīngi Tuheitia, it was just over a week ago that we talked, just you and I. I was thanking you for your warm hospitality yet again as we gathered here at Tūrangawaewae.
“You talked with optimism and positivity. You laughed, you were kind and you were gracious as always.
“That is the Kīngi Tuheitia that I will remember.
“I would not know that that would be our last conversation. You have gone too early.”
Hundreds of people have poured into the marae today. Former prime minister Jenny Shipley arrived at the same time as Luxon.
Tama Potaka, the Minister for Māori Development and Minister for Māori Crown Relations, also attended and gave a speech.
Dame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand’s eighteenth Governor-General, arrived today as well.
Kiingitanga chief of staff Ngira Simmonds said at the marae this morning: “We are shaped by the experiences of our ancestors.
“We are shaped and we are formed by everything that they have done.
“This is the transition of Kīngi Tuheitia the person to Kīngi Tuheitia the ancestor.
“In that transition, what we are now experiencing is the grief and the loss,” he said.
Simmonds later added: “The very nature of Kiingitanga and the very nature of how we understand things, there will be a tomorrow.
“The sun will rise and we will carry on.”
Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa said: “Kīngi Tuheitia was a deep thinker. He wasn’t one that just jumped into things, he actually considered them — and sometimes for quite a long time before making a response.”
Asked about politicians attending the tangihanga, he said the “sole purpose” of today was to mourn Kīngi Tuheitia.
“When the politicians asked that they wanted to bring their aroha onto Tūrangawaewae Marae to show their support and their compassion and their aroha, that will be the kaupapa.
“Politics was two weeks ago at the Koroneihana.”
Locals have said they are devastated but have come together to mourn and to host what will be the largest tangi in decades.
One of the organisers of the tangihanga at Tūrangawaewae Glenda Raumati told 1News yesterday the marae would be ready to host whoever came. She said the marae had a lot of experience this year alone in catering for large crowds.
“We’ve just had a week after organising our Koroneihana.
“We just did hui-ā-motu as well. That was only one day but it’s the same kind of numbers.”
Raumati said the people of Tūrangawaewae were well rehearsed in welcoming multitudes.
“Many of us were around when [Kīngi Tuheitia’s mother] Te Arikinui died, so there’s a lot of institutional knowledge around on how to respond to those sort of numbers.
“We’re able to respond and manaaki the people.”
Delegates and dignitaries will continue to attend the marae over the coming days to pay their respects.
On Thursday, Kīngi Tuheitia will be taken to Taupiri maunga to his final resting place.