I can't drive along Marine Parade without recalling my Dad telling us that this beach boasted "the biggest sand in the world", but Wednesday morning gave me another reason for warm fuzzies when next I choose the scenic route from the airport to Hastings.
Although I have attended many Maori gatherings over the years, I have not previously met the Maori King, and before Thursday I had not set foot on Turangawaewae marae where the king movement is based.
The concept of a Maori monarch is an old one, tracing its origins back to 1851 when Tamihana Te Rauparaha on a visit to London was told by Queen Victoria that she could only talk to another King or Queen.
Tamihana accompanied by other visiting chiefs took her message to mean that they should go home and choose a king from amongst the chiefs of New Zealand so that Victoria would have someone she could meet with and talk to as an equal.
On his return to New Zealand Tamihana organised a meeting in Taranaki of more than 2000 chiefs who agreed to the concept of a Maori monarch, a Maori king.
After much discussion, the senior Waikato chief, Potatau Te Wherowhero was prevailed upon to put his name forward and duly elected by the chiefs of New Zealand as the first Maori King.
The current King, Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, succeeded his mother in 2006 and though suffering from diabetes takes a strong interest in the issues affecting Maoridom as reflected in the speech delivered for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and four Labour Party ministers on Thursday.
By tradition, Maori monarchs' speeches are delivered by appointed orators and the former Cabinet Minister Tuariki Delamere currently fills that position, replacing another former MP, Tuku Morgan who spoke for the King in election year.
Morgan combined his position as the Maori King's spokesman with an involvement in the Maori Party and was thought to be behind Tuheitia's unprecedented endorsement of that party in 2017.
It is a matter of record that the Labour Party managed a clean sweep of the Maori electorates and my inclusion as a former Labour Party president in the Kiingitanga group at the invitation of the King was a symbolic indication of his acceptance of what was an emphatic election result and a desire to mend fences with the Labour-led Government.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern looked relaxed on arrival, having come from what had obviously been a successful visit to a marae in her nearby home town of Morrinsville, and was made very welcome on what was her first visit to the magnificent Turangawaewae marae as Prime Minister.
She has a quite remarkable ability to connect with an audience and after a longish powhiri welcome, made the observation that although she may have been standing still while this occurred, "not everyone was", a charming reference to the baby due in June.
Much of the King's speech focused on the problem of Maori incarceration and included the observation that 56 per cent of entrants into jails last year identified as Maori, an even worse situation than current totals would indicate.
A delegation from the Kiingitanga movement including King Tuheitia had recently visited Auckland Women's Jail and were offered land valued at $3 million for a rehabilitation service in South Auckland.
Such facilities are rare in New Zealand, so this is a valuable and very welcome offer.
As an activist in the penal reform space I was delighted to see this high level Maori interest in this problem.
I'll be following up on this very welcome development.
Watch this space.
■ Mike Williams grew up in Hawke's Bay. He is CEO of the NZ Howard League and a former Labour Party president.
■ All opinions are his and not those of Hawke's Bay Today.
