Mourners reflect on Mauriora Kingi's life. Photo / Ben Fraser
Mourners reflect on Mauriora Kingi's life. Photo / Ben Fraser
Thousands of visitors, including Maori King Tuheitia Paki, have paid their respects to Rotorua's Mauriora Kingi.
Mr Kingi was yesterday brought out of the wharenui at Whakarewarewa because of the large amounts of people wanting to farewell him.
Mr Kingi, who was director of kaupapa Maori at Rotorua Lakes Council, died on Friday, aged 53.
Image 1 of 8: Tangi for Mauriora Kingi at Te Pakira Marae at Whakarewarewa Photo/Ben Fraser
His tangi will be held from 11am tomorrow at Te Pakira Marae, Whakarewarewa and is expected to be attended by hundreds of people, including parliamentarians.
His cousin Taporoto Nicholson said Mr Kingi had become "recognised as a special person of Te Arawa" hence the large numbers of people visiting Whakarewarewa.
Tainui accompanied King Tuheitia on Saturday, he said. Other iwi, including Ngati Raukawa Ki Te Tonga, Ngati Porou, Te Whanau Apanui, Ngati Maru and Tauranga Moana, had also visited, as well as Te Matatini committee members and judges.
"From the top of the north to the anchor of the south. It's an indication of the man, of the esteem in which he was held," he said.
"Not just by our iwi but all iwi. He was one of those who travelled far and wide to represent our hapu and Te Arawa. He became recognised as a special person of Te Arawa so it's no surprise we're stretched."
He said all eyes were now on Te Arawa to farewell Mr Kingi in a fitting manner.
"He was a person who was young in age, wise in knowledge and kaumatua in action. Te Arawa have come together to help us make his farewell the best that it can be. All eyes are on us."
Mr Nicholson said Mr Kingi had last visited the village on Sunday of last week to thank his elders. He was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours on Monday for his services to Maori.
Mr Nicholson said Mr Kingi wanted to tell his elders that he was thankful to them and that his tohu (award) was theirs, too.
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Yesterday, former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall said Mr Kingi was hired by the council when they were looking for a person who "had the mana and knowledge to help council with iwi".
"He provided an extremely valuable service and enabled us to make decisions that had the understanding and support of both parties.
"He was very effective as a liaison person when we established the Te Arawa Standing Committee. He was probably the key to it.
"He was great with culture. He would probably be the best in New Zealand on tikanga Maori issues. He had a huge strength with waiata, learning the old ones that people had forgotten about."
Mr Hall said he visited the marae on Saturday to pay his respects.
"Listening to the people on the marae shows how much respect he was held in. It will be a changed community without him."
Darren Apanui, executive director Te Matatini Society Incorporated, said the board of Te Matatini were meeting when news of his death came.
"Mauriora was considered a giant in the world of kapa haka from judging and te reo to providing advice and guidance at all levels of the art form," he said.
"He was highly respected among all kapa haka whanau."
