Reflection and connection have been the themes as thousands of people make their way to Ngāruawāhia for the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia.
Waatea Digital reporter Kawe Roes says the weekend was the time for the tribes of Waikato Tainui to come to farewell their king.
There was also an appearance by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, on his way from the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga to a visit to Malaysia, as well as Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro accompanied by her Ngati Hine people.
Ratana tumuaki Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamou came with the Ratana brass bands, who changed one of their himene to make it a personal tribute to Kingi Tuheita.
There are two powhiri each day, at 8am and 2pm, with the tribes of the north through this morning and Mataatua and Tuhoe this afternoon.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for people from around the motu to come over and pay their respects to the Kingitanga, pay their respects to King Tuheitia and (to) Makau Ariki Te Atawhai and their children who are in mourning for a father, a grandfather and a husband they have lost. Reaffirming the connections, reaffirming the love and support we have for each other in te ao Maori is what we are going to be seeing today,” Mr Roes says.
There are livestreams of the tangi on the Kingitanga channel on YouTube and on Te Ao Maori News on Facebook.
