5:08 pm today

Kiingi Tuheitia passes away following heart surgery

From Checkpoint, 5:08 pm today

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to fly back to New Zealand to mourn the death of the Maori king - as leaders from here and around the world pay tribute. King Charles sent a message of condolence saying he was "profoundly saddened" to learn of the death of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Kiingi Tuheitia passed away surrounded by whanau following heart surgery, he was 69, Maori news reporter, Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira has the story.