Tainui raise river issue as politicians welcomed to tangi

With at least 15,000 people present to attend the late Maori Queen's tangi, her people again called for politicians to grant her last wish and return the Waikato River to Tainui.

With Prime Minister Helen Clark seated symbolically next to Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu's coffin, Tainui chairman Tuku Morgan raised the issue of the river during the formal speeches to the gathering at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia.

Speaking in Maori, Mr Morgan did not speak for long on the issue, simply saying that the negotiations were continuing and that it was one of Dame Te Ata's last wishes to see the river returned.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia did not wish to engage the issue, simply saying in his reply that it was a time for mourning and not for politics.

Attempts were made to negotiate a settlement over the river before 40th anniversary celebrations of Dame Te Ata's coronation in May, but the issue is still to be resolved.

In cold, foggy conditions, the Prime Minister came onto the marae with thousands of others around 8am.

Dressed in black with a solid black hat, Miss Clark spoke warmly about Dame Te Ata, whose coronation she remembered as a girl growing up in Waikato.

She said courage was a characteristic of Dame Te Ata's life.

"As a relatively young woman, Dame Te Ata was chosen to lead the Kingitanga, and to fill the big shoes left by her father King Koroki," she said.

"For New Zealand Te Arikinui performed outstanding representational and diplomatic duties," she said.

"She formed such strong friendships throughout the Pacific and the tears of the Pacific nations flow here this week.

"Now Dame Te Ata brings us together as she lies here."

Other notable speakers included Labour MP Shane Jones, Ngati Porou chairman Apirana Mahuika and former Maori language commissioner Dr Timoti Karetu.

The crowd was so large and the speeches so many that the powhiri lasted seven hours. A group who had hoped to be welcomed onto the marae by midday had to wait until 4pm.

Most of today's visitors were politicians or Maori from iwi outside Tainui who didn't come onto the marae yesterday, and more iwi groups are expected over the weekend.

Tomorrow, however, a two-hour time slot has been allocated for the general public to pay their respects to Dame Te Ata.

Family 'overwhelmed'

"The family recognise that many iwi and Maori organisations are yet to pay their respects to Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and we welcome them to do so from 10am Saturday," Dame Te Ata's niece Nanaia Mahuta said.

"However, in order to help us streamline the huge numbers of people still wishing to visit Turangawaewae marae, we ask that consideration be given to the wider public to first pay their respects.

"This reflects that she was a respected leader among people of many different communities and cultures."

Ms Mahuta said Dame Te Ata's family had been overwhelmed by the support from the public.

"The family would like to thank the thousands of people who have travelled to Turangawaewae marae over the last few days to share in our grief," she said.

"While this is a sad time for the family and for many people, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the life of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu and her contribution to Aotearoa/New Zealand."

Among those who will pay their own tribute to Dame Te Ata will be the All Blacks. The team will wear black armbands in her honour during tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Auckland, and a minute's silence will be observed before the national anthems are sung.

Condolence books have been available for the public to sign at Hamilton City Council chambers and at Parliament House in Wellington.

Debate has continued about the succession, with some suggesting that agreement between the outside iwi who elect the monarch may not be reached before Monday.

This would mean the scheduled burial would be put off, as it is traditional for the new Maori monarch to be crowned before the deceased monarch is buried.

However, there was no indication that a new monarch would not be appointed by Monday. It is expected one of Dame Te Ata's seven children will succeed her.

Traffic

Traffic at the site is being controlled by Maori wardens and there were no reports of problems despite the large numbers. Parking was being provided at Patterson Park, Ngaruawahia's rugby league ground.

Huge number of people paying their respect are expected over the weekend, before the burial of Dame Te Ata due to take place at Taupiri Mountain on Monday.

A section of State Highway 1 will be closed from 10am to 4pm. Detours will be in place at Huntly, Ngaruawahia and Tirau.

"This will be one of the biggest movements of people in the Waikato we have ever had to deal with and it will impact hugely on the transport network," said Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman.

Police said it was hoped a shuttle service would take people from the Turangawaewae marae to Taupiri mountain.

Road closures and detours

Motorists driving south from Auckland will be told of the detours by message boards along the Southern Motorway.

Traffic will be diverted on to SH2 at the Bombay Hills then to SH27 across the Hauraki Plains.

A further detour for southbound traffic will be on the Ohinewai-Tahuna interchange on the Waikato expressway. The only vehicles allowed past this point will be local traffic.

Traffic heading north will be diverted at Tirau - 55km southwest of Hamilton - on to SH27.

At Ngaruawahia, north-bound traffic will be diverted on to Hakarimata Rd, via Waingaro Rd.

Traffic on SH1B (Taupiri-Gordonton Rd) will be diverted on to Lake Rd.

- NZPA