Ill feeling over failed royal visit put to rest

Any ill-feeling caused by a failed royal visit to the Māori King last year will be put to rest next month when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visit the Tūrangawaewae Marae.

An offer of a 90-minute visit to the marae by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April last year was turned down by the Kingitanga, as the time allowed was deemed too short for proper protocols to be followed.

It was viewed by some as a royal snub.

Details of the visit next month were released today.

The Prince of Wales last visited Tūrangawaewae Marae in 1994, but it will be the Duchess' first time.

The visit - expected to last more than two hours - will include a 200 strong pōwhiri, a special ceremonial waka taua salute from the royal fleet, a mass haka and a high tea with nearly 400 invited guests.

Kingitanga spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan said the visit will be a significant and important occasion.

"This is now the future King of England coming here to Turangawaewae, that is an extraordinary thing for Maoridom."

The Principal Private Secretary to Kingi Tuheitia, Rangi Whakaruru, said the visit is a significant milestone in the relationship between Māori and the Royal Family.

"It is a good opportunity in this King's time to have Prince Charles at Tūrangawaewae. This is his first time as King to receive a Windsor and that is very significant when you think back to the history of the Kīngitanga."

The decision not to proceed with the visit last year by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Tūrangawaewae was very difficult for the Kīngitanga and the King himself.

Mr Whakaruru said the decision came at a very bad time when Kingi Tuheitia's health was at its lowest point.

"But he was still excited at the prospect of a visit."

Tukoroirangi Morgan said the 90-minutes proposed for the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was not appropriate to allow the motu and rangatira from around the country to give due cultural recognition to the the royal couple.

"In our culture people of that status required the appropriate attention, care and it was our responsibility to do it in the most appropriate way. 90-minutes was not long enough in our view, so we have moved on."

Kingi Tuheitia's health was still not the best, but Mr Whakaruru said the news of the visit of the Prince of Wales and his wife, had bucked up his spirits.

"This morning he is jubilant, he is very pleased and at the same time the devil is in the detail and we have yet to nut out the detail, but he is absolutely estatic that both the Governor General and the Prime Minister have seen fit to include Tūrangawaewae in this stop."

The Chair of Te Arataura, the Waikato-Tainui executive Rahui Papa, said plans were in place if the King was particularly unwell on the day, but he was pacing himself in readiness for the visit.

"Kingii Tuheitia is really keeping himself so that he can be fit and well for this visit. There may be some issues and there are some contingency plans for that but the King is invigorated I suppose, so when the spirit is on a high, then the body follows along as well."

Māori leaders from across Waikato and Iwi leaders from around the country will be invited to Tūrangawaewae.

The public will also be welcome on the Marae.

The Royal couple are expected to arrive at midday on Sunday 8 November.