Hipkins pays tribute to Kīngi Tuheitia, 'the king of kotahitanga'

Kīngi Tuheitia's tangihanga at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia continued today with politicians among the dignitaries attending.

The Māori King died in the early hours of Friday morning. He had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave a speech at the marae.

Today, it was the turn of Labour leader Chris Hipkins.

"I remember him as a very warm character who wanted to bring New Zealanders together," he told Breakfast this morning, ahead of his speech on the marae.

"Someone who created a welcoming environment around him wherever he went in the world.

"He'll be remembered as someone who was really focused throughout his life on bringing people together."

Hipkins' speech began at about 8.35am.

"Farewell to the king of kotahitanga," he said. "Today really is a day for acknowledging the contribution of Kīngi Tuheitia, not just for Māori but for non-Māori as well.

"You'll see, and I'm sure you've already seen over the last few days, an outpouring of grief form across Aotearoa, from Māori and non-Māori as well, recognising the role that Kīngi Tuheitia played in bringing us all together here in Aotearoa New Zealand."

Former prime minister Helen Clark was among those in the crowd watching Hipkins' speech.

Addressing Kīngi Tuheitia, Hipkins said: "The work that you did to bring New Zealand together, particularly in these last few months, should be celebrated.

"It was incredibly important and I know that that work will become even more important as we move forward from here, and we must continue that work."

He acknowledged the late monarch's family.

Kiingitanga toki (representative spokesperson) Rahui Papa said this morning that "a whole host of things" were happening on the marae today in preparation for the nehu (burial) tomorrow.

"The kitchen will be working overtime this evening to make sure that everyone is looked after. There's waka that are being prepared, there's organisation that's being prepared, and really, planning stages are almost in their final stages," he said.

Papa said tomorrow's proceedings will "very much" reflect the last day of the tangihanga for Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who was Māori Queen before her death in 2006. Te Arikinui was Kīngi Tuheitia's mother.

"That's been a process for each of the heads of the Kiingitanga right from Pōtatau [the inaugural Māori King], right through to Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu," he said. "That's sort of like a set type of process that happens on that day."

Papa also said there had been an "outpouring of aroha" at the tangihanga.

"It's just something that will never, ever be forgotten."

He later added: "We will look after all of the manuwhiri that come on, whether they're politicians, whether they're Pak'nSave workers."

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