Kiingi Tuheitia has cancelled all poukai in March, along with this year’s Tūrangawaewae Regatta.
Chief of staff Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds says with daily Covid case numbers topping 10,000, large events bring significant risk to kaumatua and vulnerable whānau.
He says marae need to have health and safety plans in place for any gathering.
Some marae may still hold a small whānau day or online presentation to honour the kaupapa, as was done for Saturday’s poukai at Maurea Marae in Rangiriri.
The king is also encouraging all his supporters to get the full course of three vaccinations, as he and his whānau have done.
