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Kiingitanga is hosting the motu this weekend, with thousands of manuhiri coming to Turangawaewae Marae to share memories of their loves ones and to talk about the year ahead.
Ngira Simmons, the Kingitanga chief of staff, says it’s been a busy year for Kiingi Tuheitia, including a trip to London for the coronation of King Charles III.
But he says the highlight came closer to home, when the king visited Ngati Kahungunu in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, including to the silt-ravaged Tangoio Marae.
“I kept saying to the people hosting us, ‘the king appreciates you’ve got a lot going on, you don’t need to put on big hakari for him everywhere he goes,’ but when we went to Tangoio Marae the people that were there, we gathered in a little shed and we had a cup of tea and there was a little mihi whakatau they honoured the tikanga of their tupuna and all our tupuna of manaakitanga. That moment spoke huge depths for me,” Mr Simmonds says.
Today koroneihana has been taken up with kawe mate for Tainui whanau and kapa haka.
The rest of the motu comes on tomorrow, and on Sunday the political parties turn up – apart from ACT, which is trying to make race an issue for the election.
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