Hine-Rotu Toetoe Te Koha O Te Moana Shortland arrive at Tuurangawaewae to pay their respects to Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Rangatahi Māori have arrived in numbers at Tuurangawaewae to tautoko Kiingi Tuheitia's legacy of kotahitanga and support the haukāinga.
Several school groups, including Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi Marae, and Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, were all welcomed onto the marae on Tuesday.
Latoya Paekau (Ngāti Hauā) grew up immersed in te ao Māori and feels privileged to return to the marae, a place she called home during her tamarikitanga, to help ease the mamae of the whānau pani.
Paekau is among the hundreds of volunteers and tamariki waitresses who are helping feed and serve the thousands of manuhiri that have descended onto Tuurangawaewae Marae.
She travelled from the deep south of Invercargill, and said her attendance was a "nice way of feeling connected" to the Kiingitanga and a beautiful way of showing her support.
"It's good to see all the iwi coming together, and all the rangatahi as well."
Pirihia and Mereata. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Pirihira and Mereata, both uri of Ngāti Hauā, came to "e tautoko ana i te kaupapa".
Mereata said they were at Tuurangawaewae to spread the manaakitanga among te ao Māori.
"It's pretty cool seeing all the iwi come together and spread the love to all the whānau, he tino pai."
Maioha (Ngāti Makirangi) travelled from Rāhui Pōkeka and is also among the rangatahi volunteering their time and energy to show maanaki to manuhiri.
She said it was a massive honour.
"I love seeing everyone come in and everyone unite as one, it's awesome.
"I've seen a lot of kotahitanga over the last few days, there's been a lot of people coming in and coming out, and the kaimahi as well have been awesome."
Maioha said she saw new beginnings for te ao Māori.
Te Koha O Te Moana Shortland (Muriwhenua, Ngāti Hine, Te Arawa) and Hine-Rotu Toetoe (Te Tairāwhiti me te Tai Tokerau) came to Tuurangawaewae representing their kura, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, to pay respect and honour their Māori king.
"Anei mātau ngā uri o Tuperiri, o Tāmaki Makaurau kua tae mai nei ki te whakanui i te kaupapa o te rā, arā ko tō tātau Kiingi, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII," Shortland said.
Maioha with group of tamariki volunteers. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Toetoe echoed her friend's testament, and said kotahitanga among ngā iwi Māori and rangatahi had been "kua tino kitea".
"Kua tino kitea i te kotahitanga o te ao Māori anō hoki ngā moutere o Hawaii, Rarotonga, kua kitea nei i te kotahitanga o ngā moutere anō hoki te ao Māori."
Their message to te iwi Māori was: "Hīkina te kauae kia kaua e whakakore ai te ao Māori".
Rahui Papa. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
In regard to rangatahi working on the marae, Kiingi Tuheitia's toki - his speaker - Rahui Papa said it was actually a strategic plan from them to include rangatahi in all facets of Māori society.
"It's not to push away the kaumātua it's actually to augment and support them in their roles and building up for the longevity of the Kiingitanga its going to be in the hands of our rangatahi."
Papa said there was no better learning for rangatahi than being together with their kaumātua on the marae.
Ākonga from a range of different kura have attended Kiingi Tuheitia's tangihanga over the last couple of days, and Papa said it was education at its best.