All eyes on sacred mountain [audio report]

Today's road closures and detours. Herald graphic

Tainui kaumatua and members of local rugby league teams will carry the Maori Queen to her final resting place today, marking an end to the reign of a revered woman of the people.

The funeral of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu is expected to be attended by up to 100,000 people, and will close State Highway 1.

After the crowning of her successor and prayers at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, her body will be carried down the Waikato River in a flotilla of 12 waka.

The leading canoe, Tumanako, will be crewed by 20 kaumatua, flanked by two more Tainui waka, the Taheretikitiki and the Rangatahi.

One waka crew member, Raana Huata, of Taheretikitiki, said the procession would be emotionally uplifting for all involved, and he could think of no prouder moment.

"We're doing this for The Lady. I'll never have an honour like this again, not in this lifetime."

Dame Te Ata's coffin will be borne up the sacred Taupiri Mountain to the gravesite by pall bearers and a system of ropes, handled by players from the Turangawaewae and Taniwharau rugby league teams and members of Ngati Hauaa.

Present will be the new monarch - expected last night to be Dame Te Ata's eldest son, Tuheitia Paki.

Maori Television and TV One will broadcast the ceremonies live.

The crowd at the cemetery is predicted to be anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000.

The weather could play a part in how many people are at the sacred mountain, but transport authorities are taking no chances.

State Highway 1 will be closed between Huntly and Ngaruawahia for at least six hours from 10am.

The Waikato road policing chief, Inspector Leo Tooman, said 19 police units would help control traffic.

Road blocks would be set up at Ngaruawahia and Taupiri, and traffic would be diverted from State Highway 1 to State Highway 27 at Ohinewai and Tirau.

Three trains will take people from Auckland's Britomart station to Taupiri, 5km south of Huntly.

The trains will then go on to Ngaruawahia and will bring many more mourners back to Taupiri.

About 60 free shuttle buses will also run between Ngaruawahia and Taupiri throughout the day.

When the leading waka arrives at the cemetery about 12.30pm, the Queen's body will be taken to the mountain's highest point, a position reserved for royalty.

The waka crew members will act as pall bearers, taking turns as the coffin is moved up the steep gradient with the help of the ropes.

Tainui chairman Tukoroirangi Morgan said the fleet of waka would be led by Whatihua Herangi, of Ngati Maniapoto.

"These people in the waka are our most experienced and senior of people. They have been raised on the river, they know its nuances."

He said that if yesterday's choppy river conditions recurred today, the crews would be able to handle them.

The waka carrying Dame Te Ata and the landing areas would be "dressed up" in greenery and finely woven mats "to reflect something that befits her status".


The programme

7am: Flag-raising ceremony (Kingitanga flag, Paki o Matariki Paimarire).

7.30am: Breakfast.

8.30-8.45am: Karakia (church prayer).

8.45-9.30am: Whakawaahia (crowning ceremony of new monarch).

10.30am: Start of funeral procession.

Coffin will go from Mahinaarangi meeting house to River Rd and into a hearse.

The hearse will transport the Queen's body from River Rd, along Regent St, to Te Unga Waka Drive.

Coffin will be lifted on to the lead waka, Tumanako, which will be flanked by Taheretikitiki and Rangatahi for the Queen's final journey down the Waikato River, followed by support boats.

Once disembarked at Taupiri, the Queen will be carried shoulder high to the gateway of the cemetery.

She will be transferred up the mountain by pall bearers with the help of a rope system. On the ropes will be members of the Turangawaewae and Taniwharau rugby league teams, plus members of Ngati Hauaa.

More prayers, final farewells, burial.