Te Arawa is fully behind Dame Te Atairangikaahu's successor.
The Maori Queen died early last week after a long battle with kidney failure. Until yesterday her body lay at Ngaruawahia's Turangawaewae Marae.
In keeping with tradition, Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu yesterday announced the Maori Queen's
second child and eldest son, Tuheitia Paki, 51, would lead the Kingitanga movement.
Te Arawa Maori Trust Board chairman Anaru Rangiheuea said Te Arawa would be throwing its support behind the Kingitanga and the newly-crowned King.
"He will carry the mantle of Tainui. Te Arawa have already pledged that we will support the male line. He is the man to lead the Kingitanga movement into the future.
"We will see what support we can offer Tainui and the King."
There has been much speculation in the past few days about who Dame Te Ata's successor would be with two leading contenders, Mr Paki and his older sister Heeni Katipa, 53.
In the weeks before her death Dame Te Ata said she was keen to hand the mantle on to her daughter, raising debate within Maoridom.
However, tribes supporting the Kingitanga movement wanted a King to replace her. Tribal leaders from throughout the country made the final decision in secret meetings.
Te Arawa kaumatua Don Bennett said he was pleased to see Tainui had taken the traditional road of electing a successor.
"This is the rightful line. This belongs to Tainui and their taonga belongs with them. We are behind this decision."
Rotorua deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell said Te Arawa had always preferred a male as head of the movement.
He believes the choice of the Queen's eldest son was the best one.
"I'm absolutely thrilled. This is a wonderful choice which will bring unity throughout New Zealand. He is a hard worker and a warm hearted man," he said.
Te Arawa kaumatua Jim Gray said the movement was originally set up to unify Maori.
He believes the new King is the man to pull all the tribes together.
"If he can achieve that, and I think he can, then Maori will benefit greatly," he said.
