Paris Olympics: Kākahu handover marks 100 days to go

New Zealand's Olympic preparations hit another milestone this morning, with the presentation of a special hand-woven cloak marking 100 days to go before the event in Paris kicks off.

The original cloak, Te Māhutonga, was blessed by the late Māori queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu 20 years ago.

It was ceremonially handed over from the Winter Olympics team to the Summer Olympics team in Auckland this morning.

For the first time, a second kākahu — Te Hono ki Matariki — will be travelling with the team to France as well.

It was blessed by the Māori king yesterday.

Two cloaks were needed this year after it was decided New Zealand would have a second flag bearer.

The pair will wear the cloaks during the opening ceremony in July.

On the lawn in front of the Akarana Yacht Club, this morning's proceedings began at about 6.40am.

"We are here today because it is 100 days [to go]," said Nicki Nicol, chief executive of the NZ Olympic Committee (NZOC).

"There's 100 days of mahi to come and we're gonna need every one of them."

Ngāti Whātua and the NZOC welcomed the guests with the iwi conducting karakia, mihi and waiata.

Te Māhutonga was draped over a mannequin at the waterfront shortly after dawn and a maioha, a form of karanga "evoking the spirit of Te Māhutonga, its mana and mauri" was performed.

Ngāti Whātua then continued with karakia and blessed Te Māhutonga with water, which was also sprinkled on representatives of the Summer Olympics team.

Chef de Mission Nigel Avery praised the cloak's importance in ensuring the team travelled safely before the athletes performed a haka and Ngāti Whātua performed closing waiata.

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