Te Ururoa Flavell: More than one king

Te Arawa is linked to the kingitanga. The 7th anniversary of the coronation of King Tuheitia Paki (centre) was recently celebrated. Photo / Ben Fraser

From its beginning, the thrust of the King Movement was the retention of land and a commitment to unify the people.

The first hui to initiate discussions was held at Pukawa in Taupo in 1856 and from there the concept was taken throughout the country. Each chief was asked the question as to who would take on the king's mantle and finally it was King Potatau Te Wherowhero who was anointed. From that time the Tainui confederation has acted as caretaker.

The coronation is a huge event celebrated each year at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia. There one sees celebrations, re-establishing connections; there is entertainment, sport, cultural shows, and remembrance of those who have passed on. Just recently, the seventh anniversary of King Tuheitia succeeding to the leadership was celebrated and there I saw every aspect of our Maori world in the one place. We of Te Arawa should not forget our connections to this movement. Te Arawa have connections through Ngati Pikiao and Tuhourangi.

Let me pay tribute to our own king, Kingi Biddle of Ngati Whakaue, for his second place in the World Toastmaster's Speech Competition held in America. That is what Kingi is great at; he is the King of Speechmaking. Awesome, Kingi, and congratulations. We are so proud of you.

To close, recently I heard about ISKawerau which is an initiative where businesses of Kawerau have opened their doors to the young people of the town to have short-term work experience. They will not necessarily get fulltime jobs out of the scheme but it is more about giving students the experience. The great thing with this, it has been initiated and supported by Kawerau. I say, Kawerau, you are awesome. Congratulations.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Phone 0508 924 274

I tona orokohanga, i puta te whakaaro o te Kingitanga no te hiahia ki te pupuri i te whenua, otira ki te whakakotahi i nga iwi. I tu te hui tuatahi nei ki Pukawa ki Taupo i te tau 1858 a, i heria te kaupapa ki te mata o te whenua. I pataia te patai ki tena rangatira, ki tena rangatira kia noho ko ratou hei Kingi. I tona mutunga, i tau te Paipera Tapu ki te upoko o Kingi Potatau Te Wherowhero, a, mai i tera wa, kua tiaki mai a Tainui waka i te Kingitanga. He wahi ano ta taua o Te Arawa na te ure tarewa ki a Ngati Pikiao, na te whare tangata ki a Tuhourangi.

Ko te Koroneihana tetahi hui nui ka tu ia tau ki Turangawaewae ki Ngaruawahia. He whakanui te mahi, he whakawhanaungatanga te mahi, he ngahau, he hakinakina, he kapahaka, he kawe mate, he wananga te mahi. No nga wiki tata kua hipa i tu te Koroneihana tuawhiti o Kingi Tuheitia, a, i kite atu au i te whanuitanga o te ao Maori i te wahi kotahi. Kei wareware i a tatou o Te Arawa i to tatou here ki taua kaupapa.

Tena, me mihi ra tatou ki to tatou ake Kingi, ara ki a Kingi Biddle, uri o Ngati Whakaue, mo te tohu kua whiwhi i a ia. Ko ia tera i whakawhiti i te moana nui ki Amerika ra ano, kia tu hei waha korero mo Aotearoa i te whakataetae "Toastmasters" mo tenei mea, te kauhau, te whaikorero. Koia ra ta Kingi kai! Ko ia te Kingi o tenei mea o te korero, a, ko ia hoki te mea whiwhi i te tohu tuarua mo te ao tonu. Kingi, ka wani ke koe. Me whakanui matou i a koe ka tika.

Hei whakakopani, nona tata nei, i puta te korero o ISKawerau e whakatuwhera ana ratou i nga kuaha o nga pakihi o Kawerau ki te hunga taioha, kia taea ai e taua hunga te whiwhi mahi mo te wa poto.

Ma taua kaupapa, ka ako nga tauira i nga momo ahuatanga o te mahi. Ehara i te mea ka whiwhi tuturu nei nga tauira i nga mahi, engari, he mea whakaatu tenei ko nga momo ahuatanga o te mahi. Ko te mea miharo, ko tenei. Ma nga momo pakihi o Kawerau tenei kaupapa e hapai, e tautoko. Mena ka whai pena mai etahi atu hapori, katahi nei nga hua ka puta. Kawerau, kei runga noa atu koutou.