Informal gesture reveals new king's style

A leftover strand of greenery lies outside the marae. Picture / Sarah Ivey

The new Maori King, Tuheitia, gave an impromptu speech at Turangawaewae Marae yesterday, the first of his reign.

As the mammoth clean-up operation began, King Tuheitia took time out from his personal grief to thank the people who remained at the marae.

He thanked hundreds of volunteers for their "tireless and generous efforts" over the past week, a Tainui source said.

After Dame Te Atairangikaahu's death on August 15, it is estimated 100,000 people visited Ngaruawahia or Taupiri to pay their final respects. Over the week, thousands of mouths were fed daily at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time.

A large group of iwi members and a big contingent of military personnel were present to hear the King yesterday.

Tainui spokesman Tom Moana said about 2000 people were still in and around the marae.

"The majority of people have gone home. The only people left here are from Waikato Tainui and the Army. A big task is to return some of the belongings that have been kindly loaned to the marae to help cope with the influx of people."

The King's informal and unscheduled talk went down well. Most helpers were exhausted, having also helped with meals and accommodation over the past week.

Tainui cultural expert Wiremu Puke said King Tuheitia's gesture reinforced the style of leadership his mother was so well known for.

"He doesn't want to lose the common touch, and wants to maintain the feeling that he is still accessible to the people."

Mr Puke said one of the King's first tasks would be to familiarise himself with some of his advisers.

He would not automatically surround himself with the same people that his mother had, but any changes would happen slowly.

"For example, he should look to keep on the services of some specialist roles that served his mother so well, such as Professor James Ritchie, who was her speechwriter.

"Some kaumatua, like Hare Puke and Tui Adams, you would expect to continue in their statesman-type roles. Dame Te Ata's secretary Taini Rutene would not expect to be replaced."

It would take at least 12 months for the King to settle in and finalise his key advisers, Mr Puke said.

Other Maori leaders, such as Dr Pita Sharples, have suggested it could be five years before the King is comfortable with his new responsibilities and advisers.

As well as consulting within Tainui, he will need to liaise closely with what Tainui chairman Tukoroirangi Morgan described as a "reinvigorated" national council of iwi.

Tuwharetoa's paramount chief, Tumu te Heuheu, will be one of the key players inside the council. Mr Morgan said the council would place equal emphasis on social and economic development strategies.

The King's new official title is still a matter of speculation. It is understood that he will not take on his mother's mantle of Te Arikinui.

Tainui chief executive Hemi Rau said the new title would be discussed at hui around the region over the coming weeks or months.

Mr Rau dismissed one title understood to be under consideration - Te Ahorangi (the thread of the sky).

"That is a title that is often taken on by university professors and I would not see that as appropriate," he said.

It is expected that King Tuheitia will resign from his position as cultural adviser to Te Wananga o Aotearoa as he prepares to take on royal duties fulltime. Like his mother, the 51-year-old is a diabetic.

Tainui is to negotiate with Waikato District Council and Environment Waikato about what to do with the hundreds of temporary plants that were brought in to beautify the banks of the Waikato River for Monday's funeral procession.

Many hope they can be planted permanently to enhance the landing and parking area at the base of Taupiri Mountain.

Waikato traffic police head Inspector Leo Tooman said apart from "a few nose-to-tails while the waka were going past" there were no problems with traffic on the day of the burial.

Some diverted drivers had chosen to travel along a rural route on the opposite side of the river.