Ex-PMs among 10,000-strong crowd for Maori Queen

Dignitaries including Dame Silvia Cartwright (second left) and Doug Graham (centre back) arrive at the Turangawaewae Marae this morning. Picture / Peter Drury

A crowd of 10,000 people - among them two former prime ministers - are arriving at Turangawaewae Marae to the tangi for the Maori Queen.

Delegations from Tuwharetoa in the central North Island, Te Arawa in Bay of Plenty, Ngati Raukawa from Horowhenua, and members of the Whanganui iwi were among those who were welcomed onto the marae about 8.30am this morning.

The group also included former Governor General Dame Cath Tizard and three National Party heavyweights from the 1990s, former Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley and former Treaty Negotiations Minister Doug Graham.

An estimated 2000 people are outside the marae at 11am today, waiting to be welcomed onto the marae, including a large delegation from Te Arawa iwi in the Bay of Plenty.

A large contingent of Ngapuhi delegates from Northland are expected to arrive this afternoon to pay their respects to Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who died on Tuesday aged 75, after 40 years as Maori Queen.

Maori leaders arriving this morning included Archie Taiaroa of Whanganui, a member of the Waitangi fisheries tribunal Te Ohu Kai Moana, and Waitangi Fisheries Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu Te Heuheu.

Mr Graham and Mr Bolger were key figures in the $170 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 1995 of historic Tainui land claims dating back to the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s, wars which were fought by the British against the King Movement.

Among those who are prominently greeting guests is Tuheitia Paki, the elder son of the late Maori Queen, who is her likely successor.

The 51-year-old senior manager at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Huntly, has often been called on to attend royal duties on behalf of his mother.

Also prominent is Anaru Tamihana, the direct descendant of Wiremu Tamihana, who was known as the "Kingmaker" when the King Movement began in the nineteenth century.

European encroachment

Wiremu Tamihana, like many Maori in the 1850s became worred about growing European encroachment, and was a leading advocate of a pan-tribal movement and became prominent in Kingitanga.

He took a leading role in the election of Potatau Te Wherowhero as the first Maori King. When Te Wherowhero was confirmed as King in May 1859, Tamihana placed a Bible over his head, the start of a ritual still performed by Tamihana's descendants.

This morning, Labour cabinet minister Nanaia Mahuta said the family would not publicly discuss a successor during the time of grieving for the Maori Queen.

The mood on the marae is relaxed and collegial but tinged by grief at Dame Te Ata's death.

Many events involving Waikato Maori have come to a standstill for the tangi. Even the local rugby league matches have been called off.

"Te Arikinui's father King Koroki was a very big rugby league enthusiast and they have called off all games as a mark of respect," Ms Mahuta said.

There is discussion, though, of possibly foregoing the full marae protocol for visitors on Saturday so that guests of all races could come onto the marae to pay their respects. No final decision has been made.

"People were arriving from 6.30 this morning," said Ms Mahuta. "Our estimate was that we had 8000 people here yesterday and approaching the weekend we should get even more people through."

The marae has estimated it can cope with catering to at least 10,000 people, but that it may take up the Army's offer to help if numbers get much greater.

Ms Mahuta said volunteers had not only provided their services but also food, which was helping them cope.

Dame Te Ata's body lies in a casket outside the Turangawaewae meeting house. She will remain at Turangawaewae until a funeral service on there on Monday.

Afterwards she will be transported by waka north along the Waikato River to her final resting place on Taupiri Mountain.

- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA